Sir Thomas Lynch to Secretary Sir Leoline Jenkins [extrait]

Jamaica, November 6, 1682 [16 novembre 1682].

On 20th ultimo I received at Port Royal the Royal Order of the 7th May, and yours of14th July respecting the ship La Trompeuse and the Captain La Pain who ran away with her and her cargo from Cayenne. I at once sent a special order to St. Jago to seize and imprison La Pain, but can hear of no accomplices, for most of his company opposed him, and the few that consented are dispersed, for the affair happened seven or eight months ago. Mr. Charles Barre has the procuration from the concerned, and I have shown him your letter and the order and promised him all assistance. Three days ago, when Barre was with me, I sent for La Paine with his keeper and asked him where were the twenty-five thousand crowns mentioned in the Ambassador's memorial. He says that the sum is a false estimate, for he brought here nothing but twelve thousand pounds of sugar of divers sorts valued here at 1400£, 200£ or 300£ in achiotte, and some sixteen pipes of Fayal wine of which he cheated the poor French Consul. The wines and achiotte he sold himself, and the sugar he delivered to one Captain Hoskins, who did all Sir Henry Morgan's business. This Hoskins died about a month since, so I sent for his administrator to get an account of this sugar, and have charged Barre to send it in writing to the concerned; as I remember he told me that Hoskins had received about 120,000 lbs of sugar and being unable to sell it here had shipped it by La Paine's order to England. He has paid La Paine about 1200£ which is charged on the master to whom the sugar was consigned, so that if no accident happen it is not like to produce above 300£ over this 1200£ and for this the master must account at his return, which may be in February. There is as much as this due for Customs, since La Paine has not settled according to law, but I shall not claim it for I shall not add to the loss of those concerned. I have advised Barré to get all he can into his hands, and then we can proceed against La Paine for his barratry. But, as you say, it must be by our law, for he is naturalised; otherwise he would deserve to be hanged without form, for having stolen all this and spent it no one knows how.

It was a fatal mistake (to use no harder term) to allow this villain product here. Apart from the dishonour and trouble, the traders have lost twelve or fifteen thousand pounds by it; for this Trompeuse was sent to the bay of Honduras to load logwood and designed thence for Hamburg, but as I have told you was surprised by some Frenchmen who have set up for pirates in her, taken seven or eight of our vessels, barbarously used our men, put a full-stop to our trade, and compelled the men-of-war to set out. A sloop came in yesterday from Antigua and Tobago that was captured by her and robbed of all, so that the men were perishing when they met Johnson off Tiburon. I hope that Johnson may come up with the pirate in a few days. There are a hundred and twenty desparate rogues on board her, twenty or thirty of them English. The ship is in bad condition and ready to sink, for they cannot get victuals to enable them to go and careen. They talk of going to Mona to intercept Irish and New England vessels on their way here. I ordered Johnson especially to preserve the ship as the French King's property, but if he engages her in her present condition it will be impossible.

Pursuant to the King's orders I have complained to Mons. Pouançay, the French Governor of Hispaniola, of the unjust seizures made by his deputy, particularly in the case of one Lenham, who only touched at Petit Guavos to deliver a letter from Mons. Barre, and of the piracies daily committed by the French. I have asked him to let me know if he grants commissions of war, that such may be respected and all other privateers punished like thieves and robbers, particularly one Picard in a brigantine, Pennon in a Spanish barque, and Guernsey in La Trompeuse. I have told him that I have sent men-of-war to capture them, and that I am sure not one of them can escape unless concealed in some part of his government. You would do the King a service and the West Indies also if you ascertain whether this Governor has any authority or directions to issue commissions of war, and if he has cause him to be instructed to distinguish between us and the Spaniards, but if he has not, authorise me to treat those that hold them as pirates. There are seven or eight of these rogues in pretty considerable vessels, some of them commanded by English; but I do not them so much fear as offending our Lords, and bringing the power of France against this Island.

We have plenty of trade and abundance of brave seamen. Thus we were able in eight or ten days to fit up and send off with Captain George Johnson a ship of thirty-five or forty guns and a hundred and eighty men. Johnson has 100£ for his ship, and the provisions cost 500£ or 600£, all of which has been raised by merchants and traders here. They have special orders to seek out the Trompeuse but to meddle with no Frenchmen that bear commissions, except those that have taken and robbed our vessels and killed our men.

While busy at Port Royal over the despatch of this vessel, one Captain Clarke, a very honest useful man, solicited me about one Payn in a barque with eighty men. He told me Payn had never done the least harm to any, and that if I would allow him to come in, he would engage to bring in or destroy these pirates. I thought this likely and advantageous for creating divisions among the pirates, so I accepted the offer and hope per fas aut nefas to put down these destructive rogues.

(...) I have already pointed out to you the danger that might follow from the granting of commissions of war by the Governor of New Providence. From a vessel that came in last week I learn that Governor Clarke is removed and one Lilborn put in his place, but I could not find out whether he means to continue the rapine or not. I hope you will make known your wiches to the Lords Proprietors of the Bahamas on his head. This fishing for wrecks draws all kind of dissolute fellows to Providence. The Indies, in fact, are full of desperate rogues. The worst are those who run from the ships that from England.

Recently I sent Captain John Coxon and two other vessels to the Bay of Honduras to bring away our logwood-cutters. So far from doing so he was in danger of losing his ship and his life. His men plotted to take the ship and go privateering, but he valiantly resisted, killed one or two with his own hand, forced eleven overboard, and brought the three here, who were condemned las Friday. I shall order one or two to be hanged as an example to others and encouragement to him. I am hiring him to convoy a Spaniard to Havana. The want of a frigate here has made pirates to increase in number and impudence. I am much troubled and the island in great danger. We have no public money or are like to have any, and it is impossible to oblige individuals to make such an effort (as our last in search of the Trompeuse) again. (...)

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source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1681-1685: no. 769.