Introduction
Les pièces qui suivent relatent les tractations entre, d'une part, le lieutenant-gouverneur de la Jamaïque, Hender Molesworth, et, d'une autre, les flibustiers néerlandais Jan Willemsz (mieux connu sous le nom de Yankey) et Jacob Evertsen: Molesworth les expédia à Londres avec sa lettre du 10 octobre 1687. L'évènement se situe, dans un contexte où tant les gouverneurs français qu'anglais des Grandes Antilles appliquaient des mesures très strictes pour faire cesser la guerre de course contre les Espagnols. Croisant auparavant sous commission française, Yankey et Evertsen engagent des pourparlers avec le gouverneur Molesworth pour s'établir à la Jamaïque. Mais l'une des conditions que celui-ci leur impose (la destruction de leurs bâtiments) ne fait pas leurs affaires. La suite des aventures des deux capitaines néerlandais, qui avaient auparavant fait partie de la flotte de Granmont (voir notamment la lettre de Molesworth, de mai 1685), peut être retracée tant à travers la correspondance du duc d'Albemarle, successeur de Molesworth (voir ses lettres des 21 février et du 26 avril 1688) et dans celle de Cussy, le gouverneur de Saint-Domingue (voir ses mémoires au marquis de Seigneley des 27 août 1687 et 3 mai 1688).
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Sailing orders from Lieutenant Governor Molesworth to Captain Charles Talbot, R. N. You will sail from Point Morant by the North Coast to Point Negril, when you will certainly encounter Yankey on the way, to find him and bring him into port. At your first meeting you will demand the surrender of all Englishmen on board, which will make your conquest the easier. If he refuses, you know your duty. If you do not meet him you will certainly hear of him at Point Negril, and if information is refused to you by Johnson, you will arrest him for correponding with pirates, for he can certainly give it to you. If he or any of his men are ashore at Point Negril you will endeavour to seize them there. I enclose you an order for all military officers to assist you. source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1685-1688: no 1449ii. Ensign William Geese to Lieutenant Governor Molesworth Montego Bay, 3 September 1687 [13 septembre 1687]. Captain Yankey and Captain Jacob have come into the bay to write you the enclosed letter. Yankey has a large Dutch-built ship with forty-four guns and a hundred men; Jacob has a fine barque with ten guns, sixteen patararoes and about fifty men. They have also a small sloop. When I had written the letter the whole company agreed to it. I cannot discover that they have any old privateers on board. Willm. Geese. Captains Yankey and Jacob to Lieutenant Governor Molesworth Montego Bay, 3 September 1687 [13 septembre 1687]. We have arrived from Carolina and brought several people thence who have been driven from the Colony by trouble with Spaniards. In all sincerity we present ourselves, our ships and company to service of the King of England, and hope for your assurance that our ships and men shall not be troubled or molested, as we are ignorant of the laws and customs of this island. We can satisfy you that we have never injured any British subject. John Williams.
source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1685-1688: no 1449iv. Lieutenant Governor Molesworth to Captains Yankey and Jacob 12 September 1687 [22 septembre 1687]. In reply to your letter, your ships and men shall be received in all friendliness, nor shall you be troubled on account of any accusation of piracy, for which you shall receive the royal pardon, But if any of your people owe money here they must expect to be dealt with according to law, for it is not in my power to forgive men's debts. As earnest of your intention to bandon piracy you must give security not to leave the island without leave from the Governor; you must take the oath of allegiance to the King, and tou shall receive letters of naturalisation conferring on you all the liberties of British subjects; and you must positively break up your ships, for, being foreign-built, they cannot be used for trade here, and consequently will find no buyers if sold. I expect your answer or your speedly appearance at Port Royal. source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1685-1688: no 1449v. Captains John Williams [Yankey] and Jacob Everson to Lieutenant Governor Molesworth [sans date] We have suffered much from calms and storms, and have only arrived after much distress off Point Negril. We beg you to consider that if our ships are broken up we shall be left destitute of all livehood in present and future, and to allow us the use of them. We have neither of us money to purchase an estate ashore. I shall work into Bluefields and thence to Port Royal, but we are deserted by most of our men, and have none but raw hands left, so are afraid to stand close inshore for land winds. John Williams.
Lieutenant Governor Molesworth to Captains Williams and Everson St. Jago de la Vega, 9 October 1687 [10 octobre 1687]. I told you in my last that your ships, being foreign-built, could not trade in the British Colonies, and I shall not receive you expect you break them up. If you will accept the condition, make the best your way to Port Royal, if not, leave the coast at once, for I shall consider the treaty to be at an end. source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1685-1688: no 1477. Lieutenant Governor Molesworth to William Blathwayt [extrait] Jamaica, October 24, 1687 [3 novembre 1687]. Yankey and Jacob could not digest my conditions that their vessels sould be broken up, though the majority of his people were for it. I hear that he was led by a few that had been concerned with the Trompeuse and Banister. So they made away to leeward, their vessels being much in want of repair and most of their men having deserted, so that they have but forty between them. (...) source: P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1685-1688: no 1476. |
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