Lieutenant-Governor Molesworth to William Blathwayt [extrait]

Jamaica, November 2, 1686 [12 novembre 1686].

(...) By way of Carthagena, we hear that the pirates in the South Seas came before Panama last August with three great ships and eighteen periagos, but only shewed three periagos in sight. The President, hearing that they were no more, put one hundred and forty men on two barcoluengos, and sent them out after them. The pirates allowed them to approach, and surrounded them beyond all possibility of escape. The President, still ignorant of the pirates' number, then sent out another bark, with fifty more men. Finally only one bark returned, with seven men in her, the rest having all been killed. The President has sent to Lima for assistance. The pirates have evidently received an accession of strength, which we guess, from several circumstances, to be the French that were lately on the coast of Guinea. If so, these seas will never be free from robbers unless extraordinary measures be taken. Laurens was wrecked off Carthagena while in pursuit of a small barque, but nevertheless took her with his boat and saved his people. It is uncertain whither is gone, but certainly my letter offering him terms has never come to his hand. I hear that Coxon is cutting logwood in the Gulf of Campeachy, and has written to his friends that he has given up privateering, and means to earn an honest living. I shall none the less send the proclamation declaring him a pirate to those parts by first opportunity. The Secretary will you copy of this and of another proclamation calling in the privateers of the South Seas, in order to the confiscation of their estates, which I conceive to be forfeited to the King.

On this subject I must do justice to the care and diligence of Mr Simon Musgrave, the Attorney-General. The knowledge and intelligence that he has of men who can give information as to privateers make him unusually serviceable to the Governor. (...) One Courtney, a South Sea pirate, will be tried at the next Grand Court. One Daws, another South Sea man, was tried and convicted. It appeared, however, at his trial that he was not aware of the design when he embarked, and opposed it so strongly that his mates put him ashore on an island to starve, from which he was only saved by another privateer, I have reprieved him, and think of pardonning him, on condition of appearing to give evidence against pirates when required. (...)

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source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1685-1688: no. 967.

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Warrant of Governor of Jamaica to Captains Richard Cubitt and Conway [résumé]

To apprehand John Coxon, the pirate, said to be logwood-cutting in the Bay of Campeachy.

November 24, 1686 [4 décembre 1686].

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source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1685-1688: no. 1010.