Information of Captain St. Loe, R.N., as to the state of Nevis [extrait]

[juillet 1687]

1. Sir James Russell, the Deputy Governor, is a great favourer of privateers. At the beginning of July 1686 there arrived at Nevis from England one Captain John Bear in a small frigate called James, with the King's colours flying. I sent on board to ask by what right he flew them, and found that he had a commission from Sir William Stapleton, but for another ship. I complained to Sir James Russell, who summoned Bear before himself and the Council. I laid the case before them, also the suspicious circumstance that Bear had gone to England in a sloop and returned in a frigate, but Sir James and the Council, accepting an absurd excuse of Bear's, not only discharged him but renewed his commission. Armed with this Bear has committed some piratical acts on the Spaniards, and during my absence brought one of his prizes, the Soldada, to Nevis, and had her condemned by Sir James Russell and his Council. Sir James Russell them gave Bear a new commission for the captured ship, sold him guns and stores, and sent him off to St. Thomas', hearing that I was expected from New England. On my return I asked Sir James for leave to go in pursuit of Bear, but obtained none till last January, when Bear was suppposed to have left St. Thomas'; and then his only orders were that if I met Bear I should take his away commission. This I did, and Sir James has several times lamented it in my hearing.

Again, when in obedience to Sir James's orders I had brought Bartholomew Sharpe to Nevis for trial, Sir James would not sit in judjment on the case himself, but appointed certain persons as judges, who were not sworn. At the first trial they would not admit the evidence of a Spaniard nor a Christian Indian, nor even of myself, but "God-damned" all Indians and Spaniards for a crew of dogs, who should not take away an Englishman's life. So the grand jury threw out the bill. Afterwards I obtained from Sir James Russell a pardon for three of Sharpe's men to turn King's evidence, but he took it away from me again and kept it till the three men had left the island. At last he gave a new pardon to three men who had been indicted with Sharpe, but the judges would admit no evidence but that which they had given as prisoners, and this evidence was taken from them in prison, the day before the trial, by one of the judges. I pressed Sir James Russell to swear the judges, but would not, and he refused to give me authority to impress Sharpe's men, who after their acquittal were idling and pilfering about the island. (...)