Governor Molesworth to William Blathwayt [extrait]

Jamaica, August 29, 1685 [8 septembre 1685].

(...) By late advice from Carthagena we learn that the privateers in the South Seas have left Panama, so that the passage from thence to Lima is again free, and the merchants' and King's money can come down. We learn that the French privateers had landed a thousand men at Campeachy, but that they had been stoutly opposed by seven hundred Spaniards. (...)

Captain Mitchell is just come from Carthagena. He reports that the Governor was not very civil, and would not permit him to deliver his letter with his own hand, but forced him to negociate by letter. This may have led to misunderstanding, but the sum of all is that the Governor refused to restore the prisoners, as they were taken by order of the General of the galleons as being no otherwise than pirates. They are therefore under the juridiction of the General, who is now at Porto Bello, and intends to take them to Spain. He added that, were they under his own juridiction, their treatment would be the same, that they were fortunate to be employed on the walls and to receive good meat and drink, with a good deal of stuff to the same purpose; which was unnecessary, considering that I pleaded not for pirates but for simple traders. I hope to send you copy of my instructions to Captain Mitchell. He reports that the pirates in the South Seas are in great distress, the Indians having turned against them. They wander from place to place in seven ships, which are in too ill repair to sail to European seas. When the last heard of there was a squadron of ships in pursuit of them. It is also certain that fifty men, English or French, were decoyed into the country and massacred by Indians, who sent their heads to Cartagena. (...)

Hder. Molesworth.

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source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1685-1688: no 339.

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Lieutenant-Governor Molesworth to William Blathwayt [extrait]

Jamaica, September 25, 1685 [5 octobre 1685].

(...) The news that the privateers in the South Seas are in great distress is confirmed. Their retreat by land is cut off by revolt of the Indians from them, and they have not ships enough to carry them all by sea, so we may soon hear that they have been wholly subverted. Grammont's French privateers have taken Campeachy, but found nothing there but a few parcels of Indian corn. About five weeks ago a sloop of this Island, which they had impressed, slipped away in the night. The master reported the men sickly and short of provisions, and the ships out of repair, so that they were chiefly concerned how they should get to windward again. From Petit Guavos we hear that the King of France has lately given strict orders for the recall of all privateers from attack on the Spaniards, wherein hitherto they have been encouraged. This looks as though they were to be turned some other way, for being accustomed to live by rapine and hating honest labour, they cannot forsake their old practices, and we may find ourselves concerned. But we hope that before any serious attack can be made on us the King will have given us a guard of good frigates, or the plantations to seaward will be in great danger. There is, moreover, no enemy that we have such cause to dread as the French.

(...) Captain Mitchell leaves to-morrow for a cruise to windward. He has orders to seize Banister, as we can now prove piracy against him. Another of our sloops, impressed by the French privateers, has escaped, and reports that they are going into Honduras Bay to careen.

Hder. Molesworth.

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source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1685-1688: no 378.