Introduction
Au début des années 1680, la jeune colonie de la Caroline, fondée au tout début de la décennie précédente et possession particulière de quelques grands seigneurs anglais par patente royale, commence à devenir une escale de choix pour les flibustiers. Ainsi, en 1683, certains des capitaines impliqués dans la prise de la Vera Cruz y avait fait escale (voir la relation anonyme de cette affaire ainsi que la lettre du comte de Craven, l'un des propriétaires de la Caroline, de juin 1684). Les quatre documents reproduits ici traitent d'escale de flibustiers dans cette colonie en 1685. Les deux premiers concernent l'emprisonnement de pirates anglais, dont le bâtiment s'échoua en Caroline après une croisière de pillage en Amérique centrale puis en Afrique, probablement en 1684. Les deux derniers sont des lettres des propriétaires de la Caroline adressées au gouverneur Joseph Morton, lui rappelant qu'il ne doit plus, sous aucun prétexte, permettre aux flibustiers de se ravitailler en Caroline. L'une de ces lettres cite le flibustier Morgan, ou plutôt John Markham qui participera à la prise de Campêche et trouvera la mort en Afrique aux mains des Portugais (voir les mémoires du gouverneur de Saint-Domingue, des 13 août 1686 et 3 mai 1688). Outre sa position stratégique sur la voie maritime reliant la Nouvelle-Angleterre, les Antilles et les côtes occidentales de l'Afrique, le voisinage de la Caroline anglaise avec la province de Guale, dépendante de la colonie espagnole de la Floride, attirait aussi les flibustiers qui faillirent s'en servir comme base pour lancer une expédition punitive contre les Espagnols en collaboration avec la population locale (pour cet incident, voir les divers documents relatifs à la présence de flibustiers en Caroline en 1686).
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Sir Peter Colleton to William Blathwayt June 12, 1685 [22 juin 1685]. I enclose the examination of Robert Dangerfield, taken in Carolina, which will give you a better idea of the proceedings of the pirates there seized than any other. This confession was owned by two men now prisoners in the Marshalsea in Southwark. signed: P Colleton. source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1685-1688: no 226. Examination of Robert Dangerfield [résumé] Recounting how he was picked up with thirty-five more off Point Negril, Jamaica, by a ship that professed to be on a trading voyage, and went to Rattan, where the ship was placed under orders of Laurens, the pirate. Thence they sailed for Virginia and New England, thence to Guinea Coast (Gambia), and back to Carolina, where he was wrecked. A Long account of the places plundered and the prizes taken. source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1685-1688: no 226.i. Lords Proprietors of Carolina to Governor Joseph Moreton [extrait] April 22, 1686 [2 mai 1686]. We have received yours of 14 and 24 October... You say that the majority of the Council decided that Morgan should have leave to wood and water in Carolina, but what had the Council to do with it? What right had they to allow or prohibit the entering of any ship? It is the Governor who is to suffer the penalty if ships are allowed to trade contrary to the law, and the consent or advice of the Council will not help him to escape it. We are pleased to hear that you have passed the Act against privateers. Sent it here for confirmation with all possible speed, and suffer no pirates or privateers to enter any of your ports. If any should come in, do your best to seize them and try them under the Act. Try also any people in Carolina that had correspondance with them. (...) Craven.
source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1685-1688: no 568. Lords Proprietors of Carolina to Governor Joseph Moreton and others of the Province South and West of Cape Fear [sans date mais probablement de février 1686]. We learn from our Secretary, Robert Quarry, that on the 1st September a ship came into Ashley river which pretended to have been trading with the Spaniards, and afterwards to have been plundered by French privateers, adding that they had afterwards met a fleet of English privateers whose admiral told them to come to Carolina and repair. Mr. Quarry, being as he says, Governor, though not so according to our Fundamental Constitution, prohibited the master or any men of the vessel to land or sell goods in Carolina, the ship being (as we are informed) to Robert Quarry's knowledge, a pirate full of plunder, which was landed and sold in Carolina. Wishing to give Quarry a fair trial, we appoint you to make enquiry into the matter and take deposition, which you will send home to us. If you think Robert Quarry allowed these goods to be sold, knowing the character of the ship, you will take security from him not to leave the province until the matter has been reported to the King and his pleasure taken thereon. Craven.
source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1685-1688: no 639. |
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