12 THE SEA. 



Trinity Isles, and that of Margarita, and returned back again in the summer. The pirates, 

 knowing these seasons (and thoroughly alive to the situation), always cruised between the 

 places above-mentioned; but in case they lighted on no considerable booty, commonly 

 undertook some more hazardous enterprise; "one remarkable instance of which," says our 

 chronicler, " I shall here give you. A certain pirate, called Pierre Francois, or Peter Francis, 

 waiting a long time at sea with his boat and twenty-six men for the ships that were to 

 return from Maracaibo to Campechy, and not being able to find any prey, at last he 

 resolved to direct his course to Rancheiras, near the River de la Plata, in 12| north latitude. 

 Here lies a rich bank of pearl, to the fishery whereof they yearly sent from Carthagena 

 twelve vessels, with a man-of-war for their defence. Every vessel has at least two negroes, 

 who are very dexterous in diving to the depth of six fathoms, where they find good store of 

 pearls. On this fleet, called the Pearl Fleet, Pierre Frangois resolved to venture rather than 

 go home empty. They then rode at anchor at the mouth of the River de la Hacha, the man- 

 of-war scarce half a league distant from the small ships, and the wind very calm. Having 

 spied them in this posture, he presently pulled down his sails and rowed along the coast, 

 feigning to be a Spanish vessel coming from Maracaibo; but no sooner was he come to the 

 pearl-bank, when suddenly he assaulted the Vice-Aclmiral, of eighty guns and sixty men, 

 commanding them to surrender. The Spaniards made a good defence for some time, but 

 at last were forced te submit. Having thus taken the Vice- Admiral, he resolved to attempt 

 the man-of-war, with which addition he hoped to master the rest of the fleet. To this end 

 he presently sunk his own boat, putting forth the Spanish colours, and weighed anchor 

 with a little wind which then began to stir, having with threats and promises compelled 

 most of the Spaniards to assist him; but so soon as the man-of-war perceived one of his 

 fleet to sail, he did so too, fearing lest the mariners designed to run away with the riches 

 they had on board. The pirates on this immediately gave over the enterprise, thinking 

 themselves unable to encounter force to force ; hereupon they endeavoured to get out of the 

 river and gain the open seas by making as much sail as they could ; which the man-of- 

 war perceiving, he presently gave them chase, but the pirates having laid on too much 

 sail, and a gust of wind presently rising, their mainmast was brought by the board, which 

 disabled them from escaping. 



" This unhappy event much encouraged those in the man-of-war, they gaining 

 upon the pirates every moment, and at last overtook them ; but they, finding they had 

 twenty-two sound men, the rest being either killed or wounded, resolved to defend themselves 

 as long as possible. This they performed very courageously for some time, till they 

 were forced by the man-of-war, on condition that they should not be used as slaves 

 to carry stones, or be employed in other labours for three or four years, as they served 

 their negroes, but that they should be set safe on shore on free land. On these articles they 

 yielded, with all they had taken, which was worth in pearls alone above 100,000 pieces 

 of eight, besides the vessel, provisions, goods, &c., all of which would have made this 

 a greater prize than he could desire : which he had certainly carried off if his mainmast 

 had not been lost, as we said before." 



