168 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
of the Admiralty of Bayonne. Some of these documents help to let in a 
considerable light on this hitherto obscure corner of history. Among 
the documents discovered is one which gives the sketch of John Svigarai- 
cipi and shows him to have been one of the most remarkable of these 
rovers during the reign of Louis XIV. 
He made many voyages in merchant ships to the “ Isles of America.” 
In 1691 with the assistance of some friends he equipped the frigate 
“ La Légère” and was accepted by the admiralty as a regular light cruiser 
against the enemies of the state. In a short time on account of his 
bravery and daring he became a terror to both the Spanish and the 
Dutch. His success became so great that the Governor of Bayonne, 
Charles Antoine de Gramont, Duke and Peer of France, Prince Sovereign 
of Bidache, Count of Guiche and Louvigny, Lieutenant General of the 
Army, Viceroy of Navarre and Béarn, Knight of the Orders of 
the King, ete., etc., etc., begged of him the honour of helping him 
by undertaking half the expenses of fitting out and maintaining “La 
Légeére.”’ 
In six months Le Croisic captured more than one hundred vessels. 
In September 1691 he performed a daring feat which the Due de 
Gramont (to whose letters we are indebted for all we know of Croisic 
about this time) calls the most brilliant action in the world (la plus 
jolie action du monde). Having manceuvred in a most clever manner 
and with great boldness, he captured a galley and two frigates of 40 
pieces of cannon, one of the Dutch transports (flûte) which was convoy- 
ing them, and he brought them into St. Jean de Luz. This ship was a 
valuable prize, she was laden with iron,—arms (piques), and saffron. 
This plant, the crocus, was considered of very great value. It was 
used in flavouring cookery or liqueurs, it was also made much use of in 
medicine. The prize altogether was valued at more than one 
hundred thousand franes. Several such voyages and captures are 
related in a letter from the Governor Gramont to the Minister Pon- 
chartrain, one in particular is related at length and much lauded. Le 
Croisic was cruising about on the coast of Portugal when a great tempest 
arose. He was separated from his consort, the “ Embuscade,” and he 
found his ship leaking badly. He determined to run for a Spanish port. 
He arrived at Cape Ortegal and a small town called Barios. While 
he was entering the harbour, he saw a ship making the same course as 
himself. Though in a very poor condition and out of provisions, (they 
were reduced to eau-de-vie as their only drink!) yet the instinct of cap- 
ture or plunder was so great that he immediately gave chase to the ship 
in the distance. On approaching he found it was his lost consort, which 
was in the same plight as himself. As they entered the harbour, he 
found his ship was taking so much water as to be in danger of sinking 
