An account of our intended voyage from Jamaco with a party of ships, departing from the aforesaid Island to Poartavell: receiving letpasses to go into the Bay of Hundorus to cut logwood, from His Majesty's real subject, the Earl of Carlisle. [1680]

The names of the Captains:

Capt. John Coxon, the chief commander, in a bark.
Capt. Corneles Essex in a bark.
Capt. Bartholomew Sharpe in a bark.
Capt. Robert Allison in a sloop.
Capt. Thomas Magott in a sloop.

In December about the latter part in the year 1679, we meet all up at Port Amorrant, where the party concluded to make Capt. John Coxon their chief and wood and water at Porttamorrant, and after make all expedition to take Portavella.

January the 7th, Ditto [17 janvier 1680]. These commanders above-expressed set sail with a fresh gale of wind, at S. E. and E. S. E. [lacune du manuscrit] we stands over close haled with our larboard tacks aboard steaming S. S. W. and S. by W., keeping the reefs of our top-sails in, for the most part of our vessels proved leak, that Capt. Cornelies Essex was fain to would his ship with two hawsers to keep her together. Capt Bartholomew Sharpe lost his bowsprit, that he was forced to bear away large. They got into anchor at the island of Pine lying in the Samblowes in North latitude 9° 40'. As we were coming out of Portamorrant, about 6 leagues from the port, we meets with a French brigantine, one John Row commander. He, understanding our design, was willing to concert with us. The weather growing very bad and likely to continue so some time, that as much as ever some ships was able to go through the sea. Capt. Essex by name, his vessel being old, gave way in her bow that if she had not been woolded, could never held together. Capt. Coxon calls and orders that he would make the best of his way to the Isle of Forta, and gave order that those that got there first to leave a note on the Sandy Point to satisfy the rest which are to come after, and them that first got to Forta, to go over to the Friends Islands, islands which lyeth about 12 leagues from Forta.

Our Admiral, the French brigantine, and the two sloops get to Forta first, which finding neither Capt. Essex nor Capt. Sharpe there, feared they had been sunk in the sea. Capt. Coxon went over to the Friends Islands with one sloop's crew and the brigantine's crew, leaving a sailing crew aboard: go to ly amongst these Friends Islands to take periaguas and canoes to land our people at Portavella. 2 days after arrives Capt. Cornelyes Essex at Forta, but no news of Capt. Bartholomew Sharpe. We did certainly expect he had been lost. They stayed at these Friends Islands 3 days. They bring with them 4 periaguas, and six very large canoes.

We fill water at Forta and conclude to see if through the mercies of God Capt. Sharpe might be gotten into Pines. Capt. Coxon being the best sailor, lost company with us, he steering away S. W. by W. and we W. S. W., that he weathered the Golden Island and got to an anchor at the Isle of Pines, which lyeth in 9° 40' North latitude, and beareth from the Golden Island N. W. by W. about 6 leagues. Only Capt Coxon weathered the Golden Island and got into Pines, he being the best windward boat, it blowing very hard, the two sloops, the French brigantine and Captain Cornelies Essex bore up and came to anchor at the Golden Island.

Capt. Coxon in his way to Pines sees a sail in the offing, makes sail towards her, comes up with her, and finds her to be a bark came out of Jamaco on the same account as we did, and came over to Samblowes to meet the fleet. We were all glad of his company, for we wanted men. Coming into Pines, they found Capt. Sharpe had been there, and suppose has fitted what damage he received at sea, and imagined he was gone to look for the fleet. The weather being so bad at present, could go no farther with our ships. Coxon sends Capt. Cooke with his bark from Pines to Golden Island, to give us notice that he would be gone alone with his own company and the sloops, in case that we did not make haste to Pines, but the wind blowing hard at W. N. W. could not get out. Capt. Coxon the next day comes down himself in his canoe, to know the reason of our stay, and finding the wind contrary, that we could not get out, advised the commanders to make what dispatch they could in their canoes and periaguas, to Pines, and from thence to Puerta-Vella, being afraid of their trading boats should descry them.

Capt. Cooke in his way to us meets with a Spanish galliott from Carthageane, bound to Puerta Vella with negroes, but there being in dissension among the company, some desirous to board hum, others not, so that in fine they lost him. The current under the shore setting strong to the Eastward and having hard westerly winds, Capt. Cooke could not get the Golden Island, but was drove down into the Bay of Dueryan. In the mean time, our party embarks in periaguas and canoes, being mightily desirous to be there before should be descried. And lying here, we got great acquaintance with the natives of this country, which the Spaniards had driven over to this side of the land from the South side; we found the Indians to have a great antipathy against the Spaniards, but could not know to have their revenge. They understanding our design, they courted us to land and they would show us where was Spanish towns plenty of silver and gold; of which more hereafter.

The canoes being done to Puerta Vella with about two hundred and fifty men, left the shipping with a sailing crew aboard to follow after, where orders was given by Capt. Coxon, chief commander, to make what haste he could to lower range of keys in the Samboles, to a key called Springer's careening Key, and to go no farther till farther orders. The parting canoes, going down the Samboles, sees a great ship riding at an anchor at the 2nd range of keys, which coming near they found her to be a French privateer, one Capt. Lessone, who careened in the Samboles. The said Captain understanding the design we were about, joined his company with ours, who were eighty men out of him, so we went with all our parties on with courage, and landed them about twenty leagues short of Puerta Vella in an old ruinated port called Puerta Pee; the way was very rocky and bad to march, they going near the seaside to escape the look-out which they saw plainly on a high hill, but as God would have it, the look-out did not see them. This being Wednesday they begin to draw near Puerta Vella. The Saturday following, about ten o'clock, came into an Indian village. Our people, many of them were weak, being three day without any food, and their feet cut with the rocks for want of shoes, so an Indian man, crying out, "ladroones", runs and make what speed he could to Puerta Vella. So Coxon, our general, cried out: "Good boys! You that are able to run get into town before we are descried."

We has then about 3 miles to Puerta Vella. The Indian being too nimble for us, we being tired afore, he got into Puerta Vella about half an hour before us, and cried out, "Ladroones!" Immediately we heard the alarm gun fire. We then certainly knew that we were descried. We made what haste we could into the town, the forlorn being led by Capt. Robert Alliston, the rest of our party following up so fast as they could. Before [lacune du manuscrit] of the clock in the afternoon we had taken the town, the people of the place taking to their strong castle called the Glory to secure themselves. The next day the Spaniards, being about two hundred, made an attempt to come out of the Glory. We faced them and made them to retreat back to their castle to some of their sorrows, which fell to the ground.

We kept the town 2 days, plundered what we could of it, and put the best of our plunder into canoes which we took there. Some men marched back by lands, guarding the prisoners along with them, hoping we should have had ransom for them: we carried our plunder, plate and prisoners down to a key about 3 leagues and a half from Puerta Vella, the next key's to the Bastamentes, and on Tuesday comes away Captain Robert Alleston to Springer's careening Key, to give notice to the ships which was all there at anchor that we should make what dispatch we could to the Bastamentes, where our party lay. Capt. Alliston informed us that they had taken Puerta Vela and plundered the most part of the town, without the loss of many men, only five or six men wounded, and that a canoe of the best plunder, as cloth of silver, cloth of tissue, being so covetous to load deep, sank in the river coming down; the small forts firing, they wounded 2 or 3 men in the canoes.

Our plunder being carried down to Bastamentes, and our people which marched by land being come, carries plunder and prisoners upon a key lying about half a mile from the main land. There came down about 3 days after from Puerta Vella as near as we could judge seven hundred soldiers, that came from Pennamau and arrived at Puerta Vella the Tuesday as we came away the Monday before. The Spaniards came down on brest the key we were upon, and fired several small arms, shooting clear over this key, so we took our prisoners with plunder and what we had gotten at Puerta Vella, and carried to another key hard by, out of their reaches, so our ships come down where the party lay in dispute what to do, having some thoughts the Spaniards would send to relieve the prisoners.

Keeping strict watch, we saw the next day a barcolongo standing in to Puerta Vella, which Capt. Bartholl'w Sharpe went out and took. Her loading was salt and corn came from Carthagene. Keeping very good watch at top-mast head, 3 days after we saw coming in a good big ship, came from Carthagene. Our ships and sloops weighs and went out and met her, as she was standing in to Puerta Vella. Capt. Allisson coming up with her first in his sloop engages her, and Coxon seconding him claps her aboard and takes her without the loss of any men. Some Spaniards fell for they fought about one hour. She had eight guns, a new ship of about ninety tons, the chiefest of her loading being timber, salt, and corn, and about 30 Negroes and about fewer chest of silk, besides packets of great concernment from the King of Spain, as was reported by them which by relation of our army, that our General, Capt. Coxon, had presented him in a jar of wine five hundred pieces of gold which he wronged the party of by keeping of it to himself, he being sworn as well as any other man no to wrong anyone.

After this we shared our Puerta Vella voyage, which was in money and plate and plunder we had to the value of hundred pieces of eight a man. Then we concluded to go down to Boca-Toro, to make clean our ships, by reason there is good store of turtle and manatee and fish, our ships being made clean and ready for to sail about six weeks time, but we fell in with Boca Draga and went thro' Boca Draga into Boca Toro, where seeing a sail a canoe went to her, and found it to be a barcolongo, the commander one Richard Sawlkings, who told us of Capt. Peter Harriss's being at Diego's Point, a careening. We dispatch as soon as possible. Capt. Coxon fitted out his new ship, leaving his old one there; Capt. Essex leaving his bark there she being so rotten.

We acquainting Capt. Peter Harriss and Capt. Richard Sawlking of the great commerce we had with the Indians in the Samboles, was very willing to go up with their ships, so all concluded to go up to Capt. Lessone's careening key. Boca Toro lieth about 50 leagues to leeward of Porta Vella and Boca Drago 3 leagues to leeward of Boca Toro. All the ships meeting at Lessoone's careening key aforesaid, where was orders for our rendezvous, Capt. Coxon concludes to go up to the Goulden Island and to travel over land to Pannamau, otherwise to a place which the Indians told us of, called Toca Mora. All our English concluded to go, but Capt. Lessoone and Capt. Jno. Rowe, their people refused, being manned all with French. The Indians being very familiar came upon a key to our ships, men, women and children, informing us that whilst we were at Puerta Vella the Spaniards had been down with about eighty soldiers and had fell upon the Indians for they're having familiarity with us. The Spaniards did kill of the Indians by their relation about 20, the rest of the Indians taking the mountains for their security till we came. These Indians altho' heathens yet have among them that they call Doctors, that can raise the Devil at their pleasure. They knew of our coming and at what time we should be there, and when they saw us, it was great satisfaction to them, we putting out a sign, which was a white jack and no ensign, then they come on board. They offers themselves to go with us to take revenge of the Spaniards, which they call by the name of walkers.

We making in all, in money, plate and plunder, about a hundred pieces of eight a man at Puerta Vella, people was eager for more voyage, and was now fully resolved to go to the Goulden Island and all our ships into a small cove or creek out of sight of any Spaniard, if any should come that way, haling our small barks and small vessels as close as we thought convenient under the shelter of the great ships, and order so many men to stay on board of each vessel according to their bigness to look after them, and likewise order was given that if any should come in there to oppose them, the people were all of them to go on board of Capt. Coxon and Capt. Peter Harriss's ship to defend themselves and ships to the utmost of their power. And on Sunday, being the 4th of April, we provides our provision to land next morning, it being Monday. The French ships we left in the Samboles. Next day about 6 o'clock in the morning lands 332 men, being piloted by the Indians, who seemed to be very forward in their assistance, as hereafter will prove.

Thus much for Puerta Vella voyage.

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source: British Museum, Sloane MSS, 2752, fol. 29 et suiv. reproduit dans: JAMESON, John Franklin, Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial period: illustrative documents, Tha Macmillan Co., New York, 1923 (réédition: Sentry Press, New York, 1970).