Life, strange voyages, and uncommon adventures of Ambrose Gwinett
THE
LIFE,
STRANGE VOYAGES,
AND
UNCOMMON ADVENTURES
OF
AMBROSE GWINETT,
FORMERLY KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC
BY THE LAME BEGGAR:
Who, for a long time, Swept the way at the
Mewsgate, Charing-Cross.
CONTAINING,
GLASGOW,
PRINTED BY J. & M. ROBERTSON,
SALTMARKET, 1800.
THE
LIFE AND ADVENTURES
OF
AMBROSE GWINETT.
I Was born of reputable parents in the city of Canterbury, where my father, living at the sign of the blue anchor, dealt in slops. He had but two children, a daughter and myself, and having given me a good school education, at the age of sixteen, he bound me apprentice to Mr. George Roberts, an attorney in our town, with whom I staid four years and three quarters, to his great content, and my own satisfaction.
My sister being come to a woman’s estate, had now been married something more than a twelve-month to one Sawyer, a sea-faring man, who having got considerable prizes, my father also giving him 200l. with my sister, quitted his profession, and set up a public house, within three miles of the place of his nativity, which was Deal, in the county of Kent.
I had frequent invitations to pass a short time with them; and in the autumn of the year 1709, having obtained my master’s consent for that purpose, I left the city of Canterbury on foot on Wednesday morning, being the 17th day of September; but, through some unavoidable delays on the road, the evening was considerably advanced before I reached Deal; and so tired was I, being unused to that way of travelling that, had my life depended upon it, I could not have got so far as my sister's that night, she living, as I have already said, three miles beyond that place.
At this time there was a great many of her Majesty Queen Anne's ships lying in the harbour, the English being then at war with the French and Spaniards; besides which, I found this the day for holding the yearly fair, so that the town was filled to that degree that a bed was not to be had for love or money. I went seeking a lodging from house to house to no purpose, till being quite spent, I returned to the public house where I had first made enquiry, desiring leave to sit by their kitchen fire to rest myself till the morning.
The publican and his wife where I put up, happened, unfortunately for me, to be acquainted with my brother and sister, and, finding by my discourse that I was a relation of theirs, and going to visit them, the landlady presently said she would endeavour to get me a bed; and going out of the kitchen, she quickly after called me into a parlour that let from it. Here I saw, sitting by the fireside, a middle aged man in a night gown and cap, who was reckoning money at a table. "Uncle, (said the woman as soon as I entered) this is a brother of our friend Mrs Sawyer; he cannot get a bed any where, and is tired with his journey. You are the only one that lies in this house alone, will you give him part of yours?" To this the man answered, that he had been blooded that day, and consequently a bed-fellow could not be agreeable; "However, said he, rather than the young man shall sit up, he is welcome to sleep with me." After this we sat a while together, when, after putting his money in a canvas bag, into the pocket of his night-gown, he took the candle, and I followed him up to bed.
How long I slept, I cannot exactly determine, but I conjectured it was about three o’clock in the morning when I awaked with the cholic, attended with the most violent gripes; I attributed this to some bacon and cabbage I had eaten that day for dinner, after which I drank a large draught of milk. I found my chum awake as well as myself; he asked me what was the matter? I informed him, and at the same time begged he would direct me to the necessary. He told me, when I was down stairs I must turn on my right hand and go straight into the garden, at the end of which it was, just over the sea; "but, adds he, you may possibly find some difficulty in opening the door, the string being broke which pulls up the latch, I will give you a pen-knife, with which you may open it, through a small chink in the boards." So saying, he put his hand into his waistcoat pocket, which lay over him on the bed, and gave me a middling-sized pen-knife.
I hurried on a few of my clothes and went down stairs; but I must observe to you, that unclasping the pen-knife, to open the door of the necessary, according to direction, a piece of money, which stuck between the blade and the grove in the handle, fell into my hand: I did not examine what it was, nor indeed could I well see, there being then but very faint moon light, so I put them together carelessly into my pocket.
I apprehend I staid in the garden pretty near half an hour, (for I was extremely ill) and by overheating myself with walking the preceding day, had brought on the piles; a disorder I was subject to from my youth. These seemed trifling circumstances, but afterwards turned out of infinite consequence to me.—When I returned to the chamber, I was surprised to find my bed-fellow gone; I called several times, but receiving no answer, took it for granted he had withdrawn into some adjoining closet for his private occasions. I there fore went to bed and again fell asleep.
About six o'clock I arose, no body yet being up in the house. The gentleman was not yet returned to bed, or if he was, had again left it. I drest myself with what haste I could, being impatient to see my sister; and the reckoning being paid over night, I let myself out at the street door.
I will not trouble you with a relation of the kindness with which my sister and her husband received me. We breakfasted together and I believe it might be about eleven o'clock in the fore-noon, when standing at the door, my brother-in-law being by my side, we saw three horsemen galloping towards us. Soon as they came up, they stopt, and one of them lighting, suddenly seized me by the collar said, "You are the king’s prisoner." I desired to know my crime. He said I should know that as soon as I came to Deal, where I must immediately go with them. One of them told my brother, that the night before I had committed a murder and robbery.
Resistance would have proved as vain as my tears and protestations of my innocence: in a word, a warrant was produced, and I was carried back to Deal, attended by three men; my brother, with another friend, accompanying us, who knew not what to say, or how to comfort me.
Being arrived in town, I was immediately hurried to the house where I had slept the preceding night, the master of which was one of the three men that came to apprehend me, though in my first hurry I did net recollect him. We were met at the door by a crowd of people, every one crying, "Which is he? Which is he?" As soon as I entered, I was accosted by the publican's wife, in tears, "O! cursed wretch, what hast; thou done? Thou hast murdered and robbed my poor dear uncle, and all through me who put thee to lie with him! But where hast thou hid his money? and what hast thou done with his body? Thou shalt be hang’d upon a gallows as high as the May-pole." My brother begged her to be pacified, and I was taken into a private room. They then began to question me as the woman had done, about where I had put the money, and how I had disposed of the body. I asked them what money, and what body they meant? Then they said I had killed the person I had lain with the preceding night for the sake of a large sum I had seen with him. I fel down upon my knees, calling God to witness I knew nothing of what they accused me. Then somebody cried, "Carry him up stairs," and I was brought into the chamber where I had slept. Here the man of the house went to the bed, and tuning down the clothes, shewed the sheets, pillows, and bolster died in blood. He asked me, did I know any thing of that? I declared to God I did not. Says a person that was in the room, "Young man, something very odd must have happened here last night; for lying in the next chamber, I heard groanings, and going up and down stairs more than once or twice. I told them the circumstance of my illness, and that I had been up and down myself, with all that passed between my bed-fellow and me. Somebody proposed to search me, severals began to turn my pockets inside out, and from my waistcoat tumbled the pen-knife and the piece of money I have already mentioned. Upon seeing these, the woman immediately screamed out, "O God! there is my uncle's pen-knife!" Then taking up the money, and calling the people about her, "Here, said she, is what puts the villain's guilt beyond a doubt; I can swear to this William and Mary's guinea; my uncle has long had it by way of a pocket piece, and engraved the first letters of his name upon it." She then began to cry afresh, while I could do nothing but continue to call to Heaven to witness that I was as innocent as the child unborn. After this they took me down to the necessary, and here fresh proofs appeared against me. The constable, who had never left me, perceived blood upon the edges of the seat, (which might probably proceed from my being troubled with the hemorrhage the night before), "Here, said he, after having cut the throat, he has let the body down into the sea." This every body assented to immediately. "Then, said the master of the house, it is in vain to look for the body any further; for there was a spring tide last night which carried it off."
The consequence of these proceedings was an immediate examination before a justice of peace; after which I suffered a long and rigorous imprisonment in the county town of Maidstone. For some time, my father, my master, and my relations, were inclined to think me innocent, and in compliance with my earnest request, an advertisement was published in the London Gazette, representing my deplorable circumstances, and offering a reward to any person who could give tidings of Mr. Richard Collins (the name of the man I was supposed to have murdered) either alive or dead. No information, however, of any kind came to hand; at the assizes, therefore, I was brought to trial, and circumstances appearing strong against me, I received sentence, to be carried in a cart the Wednesday fortnight following, to the town of Deal, and there to be hanged before the innkeeper’s door where I had committed the murder; after which I was to be hung in chains within a little way of my brother’s house.
Nothing could have supported me under this dreadful condemnation, but a consciousness of my not being guilty of the crime for which I was to suffer. My friends now began to consider my declaration of innocence as persisting in falsehood, to the perdition of my soul; many of them discontinued their inquiries after me; and those few that still came to visit me, only came to urge me to confession; but I was resolved I would never die with a lie of that kind in my mouth.
The Monday was now arrived before the fatal day, when an end was to be put to my miseries. I was called down into the court of the prison, but I own I was not a little shocked, when I found it was to be measured off for the irons in which I was to be hung after execution. A fellow-prisoner appeared before me in the same woful plight, (he had robbed the mail) and the smith was measuring him when I came down; while the goaler, with as much calmness, as if he had been ordering a pair of stays for his daughter, was giving directions in what manner the irons should be made, so as to support the man, who was remarkably heavy and corpulent.
Between this and the day of my execution, I spent my time alone in prayer and meditation. At length Wednesday morning came, and about six o’clock I was put into the cart; but sure, such a day of wind, rain and thunder, never blew out of the heavens: it pursued us all the way; and when we arrived at Deal, it became so violent, that the sheriff and his officers, who had not a dry stitch upon them, could scarce fit their horses: for my own part, my mind (God help me) was with long agitation become so unfeeling, that I was in a manner insensible to every object about me. I however, heard the sheriff whisper the executioner to make what dispatch he could, without the least emotion, and suffered him to tuck me up like a log of wood, unconscious of what he was doing.
I can give no account of what I felt while I was hanging, something for a little time appeared about me like a blaze of fire; nor do I know how long I hung: no doubt but the violence of the weather favoured me greatly to that circumstance. What I am now going to tell you, I learned from my brother, which was, that after having hung about half an hour, the sheriff’s officers all went off, and I was cut down by the executioner; but when he came to put the irons upon me, it was found a mistake had been made, and that the irons of the other man, which were much too large for me, had been sent instead of mine. This they remedied as well as they could, by stuffing rags between my body and the loops that surrounded it; after which I was taken, according my sentence, to the place appointed, and hung upon a gibbet which was ready prepared.
The cloth over my face being but slightly tied, and suffering no pressure from the irons, which stood a great way from it, was, I suppose, soon dispatched by the wind, which was still rather violent, and probably its blowing on my bareface expedited my recovery; certain it is, that in this tremendous situation I came to myself.
It was, no doubt, a very great blessing, that I did not immediately return so perfectly to my senses as to have a feeling of things about me; yet I had a sort of recollection of what had happened, and, in some measure, was sensible where I was.
The gibbet was placed at one corner of a small common field, where my sister's cows usually ran; and it pleased God, that about this time a lad, who took care of them, came to drive them home for evening milking. The creatures which were feeding almost under me, brought him near the gibbet; when, stopping to look on the melancholy spectacle, he perceived the cloth from off my face, and in the very moment he looked up, saw me open my eyes and move my under jaw. He immediately ran home to inform the people at his master's. At first, they made some difficulty to believe his story; at length, however, my brother came out, and, by the time he got to the field, I was so much alive, that my groans were very audible.
It was now dusk. The first thing they ran for was a ladder. One of my brother's men mounted, and putting his hand to my stomach, felt my heart beating very strongly. But it was found impossible to detach me from the gibbet, without cutting it down. A saw, therefore, was got for that purpose; and, without giving you a detail of trifling circumstances, in less than half an hour, having freed me from my irons, they got me blooded, and put into a warm bed in my brother's house.
It is an amazing thing, that, though upwards of eight persons were intrusted with this transaction, and I remained three days in the place after it happened, not a creature betrayed the secret. Early next morning, it was known that the gibbet was cut down, and it immediately occurred to every body, that it was done by my relations, in order to put a slight vail over their own shame, by burying the body: But when my brother was summoned to the mayor's house, in order to be questioned, and he denied knowing any thing of the matter, little more stir was made about it; partly because he was greatly respected by all the neighbouring gentlemen, and in some measure, perhaps, because it was known that I continued to persist strongly in my being innocent of the fact for which I suffered.
Thus, then, was I most miraculously delivered from an ignominious death, if I may call my coming to life a delivery, after all I had endured: but, how was I to dispose of my life, now I had regained it?—To stay in England was impossible, without exposing myself again to the terrors of the law. In this dilemma, a fortunate circumstance occurred. There had lain for some time, at my brother's house, one or two of the principal officers of a privateer that was preparing for a cruise, and just then ready to sail. The captain kindly offered to take me on board with him.—You may guess, little difficulty was made on our side to accept of such a proposal; and proper necessaries being quickly provided for me, my sister recommended me to the protection of God and the worthy commander, Who most humanely received me as a sort of under assistant to his steward.
We had been six months out upon our cruise, having had but very indifferent success, when, being upon the coast of Florida, then in the hands of the Spaniards, we unfortunately fell in with a squadron of their men of War: and, being consequently, taken without striking a stroke, we were all brought prisoners into the harbour of Havannah. I was really now almost weary of my life, and should have been very glad to have ended it in the loathsome dungeon; where, with forty others of my unfortunate countrymen, the enemy had slowed me: but, after three years close confinement, we were let out in order to be put on board transports, to be conveyed to Pensylvania, and from thence to England. This, as you may believe was a disagreeable sentence to me, taking it for granted, that a return home would be a return to the gallows: being now, a tolerable master of the Spanish language, I solicited very strongly to be left behind: which favour I obtained, by means of the master of the prison, with whom, during my confinement, I had contracted a sort of intimacy; and he not only took me into his house, as soon as my countrymen were gone, but in a short time, procured me a salary from the governor, for being his deputy.
Indeed, at this particular time, the office was by no means agreeable. The coast had been long infested with pirates, the most desperate gang of villains that can be imagined: and there was scarce a month passed that one or other of their vessels did not fall into the governor's hands, and the crew as constantly were put under my care. Once I very narrowly escaped being knocked on the head by one of these ruffians, and had the key wrestled from me: another time I was shot at. 'Tis true, in both cases the persons suffered for their attempt, and, in the last, I thought a little too cruelly; for the fellow who let off the carabine, was not only put to the torture, to confess his accomplices, but afterwards broke upon the wheel, where he was left to expire, the most shocking spectacle I ever beheld with my eyes.
I had been in my office about three months when a ship arrived from Port-Royal, another Spanish settlement on the coast, with nine English prisoners on board. I was standing on the street as they were coming up from the port, with a guard of soldiers, to the governor's house. I thought something struck me in the face of one of the prisoners, that I had before been acquainted with. I could not stop them for us to speak together: however, in about an hour after, they were all brought down to prison, there to be lodged till the governor signified his further pleasure.
As soon as the poor creatures found I was an Englishman, they were extremely happy, even in their distressed situation, though indeed they were treated with lenity enough, and only sent to the prison till a lodging could be provided for them, they having been, in the course of the war, made prisoners as well as myself, and then on their return home. I now had an opportunity of taking notice of the man whose face I thought I knew, and I was more and more confirmed that I was not mistaken. In a word, I verily thought that this man was the person for whose supposed murder I had suffered so much in England; and the thought was so strong in my head, that I could not sleep a wink all night.
In the morning after their arrival, I told them, that if any of them had a mind to walk about the town I would procure them permission, and go along with them. This man said he would go, and it was what I wished. Three other prisoners, that went out along with us, walked a little in advance. I now took the opportunity, and looking in his face, "Sir," said I, "was you ever at Deal:" I believe he, at that instant, had some recollection of me; for, putting his hand upon my shoulder, tears burst into his eyes. "Sir," says I, "if you were, and are the man I take you for, you here see before you one of the most unfortunate of human-kind; Sir, is your name Collins?" He answered it was——"Richard Collins!" said I. He replied, "Yes," "Then," said I, "I was hanged and gibbeted upon your account in England."
After our mutual surprise was over, he made me give him a circumstantial detail of every thing that happened to me in England, from the moment we parted. I never saw any man express such concern as he did, while I was pursuing my melancholy adventures; but when I came to the circumstances of being hanged, and afterwards hung in chains, I could hardly prevail upon him to believe my relation, till backed by the most serious asseverations, pronounced in the most solemn manner. When I had done; "Well," said he, young man, (for I was then but in my twenty fifth year; Mr. Collins might be about forty-three) if you have sustained misfortunes upon my account, do not imagine (though I cannot lay them at your door) that I have been without my sufferings. God knows my heart, I am most exceedingly sorry for the injustice that has been done you; but the ways of Providence are unsearchable." He then proceeded to inform me by what accident all my troubles had been brought about.
"When you left me in bed," said he, "having at first awaked with an oppression I could not account for, I found myself grow exceedingly sick and weak; I did not know what was the matter; I groan’d and sigh'd, and thought myself going to die; when, accidentally, putting my hand to my left arm, in which I had been blooded the morning before, I found my shirt wet, and, in short, ⟨that⟩ the bandage having slipped, the orifice was ⟨again⟩ opened, and a great flux of blood issued.
⟨This⟩ immediately accounted for the condition I ⟨found⟩ myself in. I thought, however, I would ⟨not⟩ disturb the family, which I knew had gone to ⟨bed⟩ very late. I, therefore, mustered all my ⟨strength⟩, and got up with my night-gown loose ⟨about⟩ me, to go to a neighbouring barber who had (illegible text)ed me, in order to have the blood stopt and the ⟨bandage⟩ placed. He lived directly opposite to our ⟨house⟩; but when I was crossing the way, in order ⟨to⟩ knock at his door, a band of men, armed with ⟨cutlasses⟩ and hangers, came down the town, and ⟨siezing⟩ me, hurried me towards the beach. I ⟨begged⟩ and prayed; but they soon silenced my cries. ⟨At⟩ first I took them for a press-gang, though I ⟨afterwards⟩ found they were a gang of ruffians, ⟨belonging⟩ to a privateer, aboard of which they ⟨immediately⟩ took me. However, before I got ⟨thither⟩, the loss of blood occasioned me to faint ⟨away⟩. The surgeon of the ship, I suppose, tied ⟨up⟩ my arm; for, when my senses returned, I ⟨found⟩ myself in a hammock, with somebody ⟨feeling⟩ my pulse. I asked where I was? They said I ⟨was⟩ safe enough. I immediately called for my ⟨night⟩-gown; it was brought me; but of a very ⟨considerable⟩ sum of money that was in the ⟨pocket⟩ of it I could get no account. I complained to ⟨the⟩ captain of the violence that had been done me, ⟨and⟩ of the robbery his men had committed; but, ⟨being⟩ a brutish fellow, he laughed at my grief, and ⟨told⟩ me, if I had lost any thing, I should soon ⟨have⟩ prize-money enough to make me amends. In ⟨a⟩ ⟨word⟩, not being able to help myself, I was ⟨obliged⟩ to submit: and, for three months, they ⟨forced⟩ me to work before the mast. In the end, ⟨however⟩, we met with the same fate that you did. We were taken by the Spaniard; and by adventures parallel to your own, you now see me here on my return to our native country; whither, if you will accompany me, I shall think myself extremely happy."
There was nothing now to prevent my going to England; and a ship being to sail for Europe in eight or ten days, in it Mr. Collins and I determined to embark. As soon as we returned home I went to my master, and told him my resolution he did not dissuade me from it, chiefly, I suppose because it gave him an opportunity of getting the little office I held, for a nephew of his, who was lately come to live with him, to whom, the very same day, I delivered up my trust. And here the providence of God was no less remarkable to me than in other particulars of my life; for the very same night, eight or ten pirates, who were in the prison, watched the occasion, while the young man was locking up the wards, to seize him, taking the keys from him, after having left him for dead; and, before the alarm was sufficiently given, five of them made their escape, having, as it was supposed, got off the coast by means of piratical boats, which kept continually hovering about.
It was the 18th day of November, 1712, that, having made all my little preparations, I sent my trunk aboard the Nostra Senora, a merchant ship bound for Cadiz, Michael Deronza master. The vessel was to sail that evening, and lay in the road, three miles from the town. About seven o’clock in the evening, I being then sitting with Signior Gasper, my old friend and master, in the portico to his house, a lad came up, and said the boat had been waiting half an hour for me at the port, and that my companion, Mr. Collins was already on board. I ran to the house for a small bundle, and only staying to take leave of one or two of the family, made what haste I could to the quay; and when I arrived, I found the boat had already put off, leaving word, that I should overtake them at little bay, beyond the town. The dusk was coming on. I ran along the shore, and, as I imagined soon had a sight of the boat, to which I bailowed as loud as I was able; they answered, and immediately put about to take me in: but we had scarce got fifty yards from land, when, on looking about for my friend Mr. Collins, I missed him; and then it was I found I had made a mistake; and, instead of getting on board my own boat, which I now saw a-head, I had got into a boat belonging to some of the pirates. I attempted to leap overboard, and should easily have swam ashore; but I was prevented by one of the crew, who gave me a stroke on the head, which immediately laid me senseless; and I found afterwards they mistook me for one of their own men, whom they had sent to purchase something in the town.
A more infernal crew than these pirates breathed, not upon the face of the earth. Their whole lives were a scene of rapine and murder, which, when they had not an opportunity of committing upon wretches that fell into their clutches, during their piratical pursuits, they committed upon one another. During the time that I remained with them, which was upwards of three years and three quarters, there was no less than eleven assassinations among themselves. There was an uninhabited island, about twelve leagues well of the Gulph of Mexico, which those villains called Swallow island, from the great number of those birds which harboured upon it. Here they had a fortification; and the place being rendered almost inaccessible by rocks, except at one little inlet, just large enough to admit a single vessel, they defied the Spanish power.
Their captain was one Bryan Walsh, an Irishman, whom I cannot help calling a most execrable and bloody villain, though God Almighty put it into his heart to be a very good friend to me. When I was brought into the ship, and, immediately after into the captain's cabin, the first person that accosted me was one of the fellows that had broke out of prison, and had formerly been under my care. He knew me directly; and without any more ado, drawing out his hanger, aimed a stroke at me, which falling upon my neck, entered deep into the flesh, and must infallibly have put an end to my life, had not the captain prevented it, by raising his cane between him and me, which broke the force of the blow. From this moment he seemed to take me under his protection. At his own request, I gave him a history of my life, which astonished him greatly: but notwithstanding I pleaded hard to be set on shore again, he absolutely refused: and, in spite of all my entreaties to the contrary, brought me to the island and fortification I have already mentioned, where, finding I could read and write, two qualifications he wanted himself, he thought I might be of use to him.
I have already said, that with these people I remained upwards of three years; on land I acted as store-keeper; and at sea, as a sort of purser to the ship. It is to be observed, that there was always a sufficient number of hands left on the island to man the fort, which was so situated as effectually to prevent the approach of an enemy. Indeed the office of store-keeper was a place of great trust. You would hardly credit me, was I to attempt to tell you the immense riches these robbers robbers had amassed together. One article alone will be sufficient to give you an idea of it. Under one shade, I myself reckoned three thousand eight hundred bales of English goods; and I may safely declare, that in other merchandize of almost every kind, they fell nothing behind: and upon an average, there could not be less in their coffers than two hundred thousand pounds sterling in specie, besides a great quantity of gold in bars.
The continual terror that was on my mind while I remained with these people, is not to be imagined: but, to give you a detail of our manner of life, while I endured this worst of bondage, would be tedious, because it had no variety, and shocking to boot, as I was forced to enter into all their horrid schemes. I shall only tell you, that in one of our cruizes, having met with a Jamaica ship, we hoisted out our black colours, and having boarded her, because she made some resistance, and killed one of our men, the captain ordered that the whole crew should be massacred; which wicked command was executed upon the master, five seamen, and a boy, in a manner, before the cruel monster’s eyes; then taking the cargo out, which proved to be rum and sugar, we scuttled the ship, and returned to our fortification.
But to see how the Avenger of wicked deeds makes the fruits of our crimes our punishment, this cargo of rum, which was of a kind not many degrees short of aquafortis, was drunk by the men with such a fury, that in little more than three days, not a drop of it was left; and of our compliment of eighteen men, seven absolutely lost their lives by it, among whom was the captain.
I cannot but confess I had some attachment to his man, because he always appeared particularly attatched to me: when, therefore, I saw him lie senseless on the floor, overgorged with this infernal liquor, I did every thing I could to recover him, and so far succeeded as to bring him to his senses; but the quantity he had drunk had inflamed his bowels to a degree not to be asswaged by no lenitives, that was in my power to procure him. He was seized with intermitting convulsions, which, the next day, carried him off; but about four hours before he died, he called to me, in presence of all the men, who stood about him, in the cabin, and desiring me to sit down with pen and ink, to draw his will, he left me sole heir to his share of the booty, signing the paper with his mark; which paper through a series of unheard-of misfortunes, I have preserved in my custody ever since.
We buried the captain the next day; and, on inspection and partition of the treasure, I found myself worth considerably more than forty thousand pounds Sterling. The persons now remaining of our company were, Joseph Wright, Andrew Van Hooten, a Dutchman, James Winter, and myself, the four principals, besides four common men, to whom we assigned five thousand pounds a-piece, which we gave to each of them in dollars: nor did I observe any discontent among them on account of the bequest the captain had made to me.
All my thoughts were immediately bent on getting off the island to some of the English settlements. I plainly perceived, that my companions wanted to be again at their old practices: but one day talking upon the subject of another cruize, I represented to them the danger and uncomfortable situation we were all in; that we had each of us a very ample fortune to support us in any part of the world; it was, therefore, my advice, that we should immediately put our treasure on board, with as much of the merchandize as we could conveniently carry off, and make the best of our way to Jamaica, where there was no doubt but we should be well received.
They agreed to the proposal with more alacrity ⟨than⟩ I thought they would.—We fell immediately ⟨to⟩ work, and in two days were prepared to sail. But though we put a considerable quantity of bale goods on board, the quantity still in the warehouse was astonishing. I warned the fellows of their ⟨capacity⟩, and the danger of deeply loading the ⟨ship⟩, but they would not give over till she could ⟨hold⟩ no more; and then the treasure, packed in ⟨chests⟩, each man’s share separate to himself, we ⟨put⟩ in the cabin.
We weighed anchor the 3d. of August, and for ⟨three⟩ days we had excellent weather; but the 4th. ⟨A⟩ storm began to threaten, and the symptoms still ⟨increasing⟩, by midnight such a war was raised ⟨between⟩ heaven and earth, as to that hour, I never was witness of. About three o’clock in the ⟨morning⟩ we were obliged to heave the ship too under her ⟨spare⟩ poles, and the sea ran so exceeding high that we could keep no lights on board, tho' the night was so dark that we could scarce see one another ⟨at⟩ a quarter of a yard distance; the wind still ⟨increasing⟩, we sprung the main-mast about six feet ⟨from⟩ the deck, that nothing could save it. We ⟨now⟩ began to feel the consequence of too deeply ⟨loading⟩ the vessel. The first things we threw ⟨overboard⟩ were our guns, and as our case became more ⟨and⟩ more desperate, every thing followed them, ⟨not⟩ excepting our chests of treasure. Thus I was ⟨once⟩ more reduced to my original state of poverty. As day-light appeared the storm abated. We then, ⟨as⟩ well as we were able, erected jury-masts; and in about four hours managed, with the greatest difficulty, to get the vessel again under sail.
I was now standing behind the man at the wheel, leaning against the mizen-mast, returning God thanks in my own mind for our amazing escape, when the boatswain came up to me and said, "Damme, Master Gwinett, you have brought us all into a pretty hole here; if it had not been for you we should not have taken this trip, and lost the substance we have been working for so many years; but you lop too, I assure you." I asked him what he meant? He said he would let me see; upon which he and two or three others of them that came behind him, seizing me by the nape of the neck, and waistband of the breeches, forced me over the rails of the quarter-deck, and dropt me into the sea.
The shock of the fall, and the amaze I was in from so unexpected an accident, almost bereaved me of my senses: I endeavoured, however, to keep myself above water as well as I could, though I had no manner of hopes of saving my life. My first attempt was to swim after the ship; but finding that impracticable, I turned about, and, I believe, might have swam about three quarters of an hour, when being very faint and weak, I began to put up my last prayer to God, and commit myself to the deep; but at that instant turning my head a little aside, I saw, at a small distance from me, what at first I took for a barrel; but, good Lord! what was my joy and astonishment, when coming nearer it, I perceived to be one of our own boats, which had been washed overboard the night before; and to complete my joy, the oars were lashed to the seat. Almost spent as I was, I made a shift to get into it; and here I saw myself freed in a miraculous manner, from the fury of the waves: ⟨but⟩ at the same time I found myself in an open ⟨boat⟩, at least sixty leagues from any land, without ⟨a⟩ compass or any kind of nourishment whatsoever, ⟨unless⟩ I might count such some tobacco I had in a ⟨box⟩ in one of my waistcoat pockets, and I believe ⟨to⟩ my conscience, it afforded a nourishment, that, ⟨it⟩ a great measure helped to preserve me.
It was a very great blessing for me, that ⟨moderate⟩ weather followed the tempest, by which ⟨means⟩ I was enabled to keep the boat tolerably ⟨steady⟩. I could not be less than thirty hours in ⟨this⟩ situation, when I was taken up by a Spanish ⟨carrick⟩; but I hardly reckon that among ⟨fortunate⟩ accidents; for the same day that I entered the ⟨ship⟩, one of the men, while I was asleep, hanged ⟨up⟩ my clothes among the shrouds to dry; in ⟨doing⟩ it, emptied my pockets, and finding several ⟨papers⟩ relative to the pirates' affairs, as soon as ⟨they⟩ arrived in Port-Royal, whither they were (illegible text)und, they seized me as one of that desperate (illegible text)g. I must observe to you, that when I first ⟨was⟩ taken into the ship, I gave a false account of ⟨myself⟩; which caution was my ruin; for now ⟨confessing⟩ the truth, and telling them I had been ⟨forced⟩ into the pirate's service, with all that had ⟨happened⟩ to me among them, my prevarications made ⟨them⟩ suspect my veracity, and I was kept two ⟨years⟩ in prison; when, by what means I know ⟨not⟩, some of the wretches, with whom I left our ⟨land⟩, having been taken as pirates upon the ⟨Spanish⟩ coasts in Europe, an order came to bring me ⟨over⟩ to Cadiz in Old Spain, in order to be an ⟨evidence⟩. When I came there, I was again ⟨confined⟩ for many months; but at length, when the ⟨pirates⟩ were brought to their trial, instead of being ⟨made⟩ use of as an evidence, I found myself treated as a delinquent, and with two others, condemned to the galleys for life.
I wrought on board them for some years, when the galley I belonged to was ordered to sea, against an Algerine rover that infested the coast; but, instead of one, we met with three of them. The issue of the engagement was fatal to us. The greatest part of the crew were killed, and the rest taken prisoners, amongst which last I was one having lost the leg which you see me want, in the action.
After this, I passed a long and painful slavery in Algiers, till, with many other English captives, I was released, by agreement between the Dey of Algiers and his Britannic Majesty’s agent. In the year 1730, I returned to England. The first thing I did was to enquire after my relations; but all those nearest to me were dead, and I found Mr. Collins had never returned home; so I suppose he died in his passage. Though not an old man I was so enfeebled by hardships, that I was unable to work; and being without any manner of support, I could think of no way of getting my living but by begging.
FINIS.
GLASGOW,
PRINTED BY J. & M. ROBERTSON,
SALTMARKET, 1800.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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