Introduction
Dans les années 1680, alors que les gouverneurs des colonies anglaises et françaises des Antilles durcissent leurs poisitions envers eux, un grand nombre de flibustiers sont attirés par l'aventure de la mer du Sud (l'océan Pacifique). Certains entreprennent le voyage à pied par l'isthme de Panama (voir le journal de Raveneau et la déposition de Richard Arnold). D'autres à l'exemple des Cook, Eaton et Swan, empruntent la voie maritime passant par le détroit de Magellan (voir la lettre du capitaine Swan, de mars 1685 et celle du gouverneur de la Jamaïque au comte de Sunderland, du 25 mars 1685). Cependant, la plupart de ceux qui s'y risquèrent en 1686 comme le Français Lesage arrivèrent dans le détroit de Magellan dans la mauvaise saison et durent rebrousser chemin, ce qui les oblige alors à aller écumer soit les côtes de Guinée (en Afrique) soit celles du Brésil. Une bande de flibustiers anglais, qui rentra aux Antilles sans grand butin et alla se réfugier aux Bahamas à la fin de 1687, subit ce revers de la fortune et furent capturés par le colonel jamaïquain Georges Needham, comme le rapporte ici le gouverneur de la Jamaïque, le colonel Molesworth. Pour l'exemple d'une autre compagnie (celle du capitaine Woolerly) ayant été contraint d'abandonner son dessein en mer du Sud et qui relâcha aussi aux Bahamas, voir la lettre révérend Tobias au gouverneur de la Jamaïque, de septembre 1687)
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Lieutenant Governor Molesworth to William Blathwayt [extrait] Jamaica, December 7, 1687 [17 décembre 1687]. (...) The report the the Duke of Albemarle had a patent for the wreck was likely to have prevented the coming in of of most of the sloops. The men were refractory, and would have forced the masters to share at some of the uninhabited islands, but through the prudence and management of the commissioners whom I had appointed for the purpose, they came dropping in one after another, though many of the masters had trouble enough with their men. At last Council Mr. James Wall, who said that he had seen the Duke's patent for the wreck, was examined about it, and said that he had seen the rough draft. The Counsil accordingly agreed to make a proclamation to check th hot pursuit of the wreckers. One George Needham, who was sent with my commission after pirates, heard at Providence of some who had burnt their ship and raised a fort of eight guns on a neighbouring island for their security. He accordingly sailed thither, beat them out of ot, and brought off the men with their goods, and three or four Portuguese negroes, who were the only witnesses that could be produced against them. It appeared from their account that they had taken a Portuguese ship off Brazil, and on this evidence the men were condemned. Though pardon had been promised, not one of them singly would make tje least confession. At last the pardon was offered to all, when it appeared that they belonged to three sloops, which left to Carolina in company, with the resolution to take some good ship and sail with her to the South Seas. At last they got a Dutch vessel of good force, with which they took another, and sailed away south, but were beaten back by foul weather at Magellan's strait, and forced into Providence. There they burnt their ship (as Woolerly had done before them), and hearing of the proclamation for pardon of pirates were intending to go to New England. Their spoil was condemned, though it was of little value; an ccount will be sent to you of it. I hear that Captain Spragge has been forced through the Gulf by a gale, and driven to Virginia. signed: Hder. Molesworth. |
P.R.O. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series: America and West Indies, 1685-1688: no. 1555.
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