Introduction
En 1687, environ un millier de flibustiers sévissent contre les Espagnols en mer du Sud (l'océan Pacifique), mais, pour la majorité d'entre eux, l'expédition se terminera bientôt (voir la déclaration de flibustiers français revenant de la mer du Sud faite en mai 1688). Ceux qui sont restés dans la mer des Caraïbes ou qui ont été contraint d'y retourner faute d'avoir pu rejoindre leurs camarades en mer du Sud connaissent des sorts divers. Dans une lettre qu'il expédie à Londres à l'automne 1687, le colonel Molesworth, le gouverneur de la Jamaïque, rapporte ces efforts pour supprimer ce qui reste d'écumeurs des mers dans les parages de son île. Avec certains comme le capitaine Beare passé au service de l'Espagne (voir la lettre de Molesworth à Blathwayt), il emploie la manière forte comme avec le malheureux Bannister, utilisant encore une fois les services du vaisseau du roi The Drake, commandé par Thomas Spragge. Avec d'autres, tels ici le fameux flibustier néerlandais Yankey, il essaie de négocier, avec vraiment peu de succès.
Lieutenant Governor Molesworth to William Blathwayt [extrait] Jamaica, September 30, 1687 [10 octobre 1687]. Since my last Captain Spragge sailed direct to Havanna to demand Captain Bear. He had advised me that he could not go first to Providence, for want of a pilot to windward, so I added a postscript to his instructions, giving him latitude to sail for whichever of the two he judged most convenient. I lately received a letter from Providence from Mr. Bridge, who has been elected Chief under the name of Moderator. He writes that they would not receive Woolerly there, so I expect he is sailed for New England, where he was brought up. Copy of Mr. Bridge's letter is enclosed. About a month since Captain Yankey came near this island, having privately warned his old correspondent to supply him with necessaries, and directed whither they were to be sent. The correspondent, however, frightened by my recent severity towards his kind, refused to supply him, but shewed the letter to me, which told me perfectly where Yankey was and asked for my directions. I answered that I could not permit him to be supplied from hence with anything whatever, but that if he was ready to come in, and live honestly among us, giving security for the same, he might be received, His ship has forty guns, but he had not at that time above sixty or eighty men; but having litte idea that he would come in upon so splender invitation, I sent to Captain Talbot to tell him that Yankey's ship was a capture from the Spaniards, that she was weak, and manned chiefly with Englishmen. He was therefore to demand the surrender of Yankey and bring him into port. Captain Talbot, however, wrote to me a day or two before he received my letter that he had split some of his sails and was short of provisions, so on receipt of my letter he came straight onto the port. If he had gone straight down the North Coast as I ordered him, he would have met Yankey in less than twenty-four hours. Copies of our correspondence are enclosed. Some time after this I received a letter from Yankey and one Jacob his partner, both Dutchmen, on behalf of themselves and their people, desiring to live honestly here. I sent a friendly answer, imposing certain conditions of which the principal was, that their ships should be broken up, which, after all, is the best security that they shall not return to their old trade. It is now about a fortnight since the messenger left with my letter, but so far they have neither ansewered or come in. But we have had bad weather, and I am told they have been as if making for some of leeward ports. If they do come in, it will be good service done to Jamaica, and even better to the Spaniards. I was not little encouraged towards this method of clearing coast of pirates, by advice of a proclamation which the Duke of Albemarle is to bring with him for calling in privateers and pirates. (...) |
P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1685-1688: no. 1449.
LES ARCHIVES DE LA FLIBUSTE |
sommaire || summary |
Le Diable Volant |