Chap. I. Captain Wo odes Rogers. i8f 
out of the Ships to vifit each other at Sea without a Signal, 
or Leave. On the 23d, the Weather being clofe, the 
Commodore made a Signal about ten o’Clock for feeing 
Land ; prefently all the Fleet anfwered him with their 
Colours. The Pilot-boats coming off aboard the Ships, 
we parted with the Rotterdam and Middleburgh Ships, moft 
of the Men of War going with them to fee them fafe in. 
The Flag, and all the Englifh Ships, faluted the Com- 
modore, and afterwards we faluted the Flag, to welcome 
him in Sight of Holland ; ahd, as foon as they were got 
over the Bar, the Dutchmen fired at their fafe Arrival in 
their own Country, which they very affectionately called 
Fatherland. About eight at Night we all came fafe to 
Anchor in fix Fathom Water, about two Miles off Shore. 
On the 24th in the Morning, the Dutch Flag weighed, in 
order to go up to the unlivering Place : As he palfed by 
us, we gave him three Huzzas, and nine Guns. In the 
Afternoon I went up to Amfierdam , where we had Letters 
from our Owners, to direct us how to aft, and proceed 
from hence. On the 28th, the Englifh Eafi India Ships 
had Orders to be in Readinefs for failing with the firft 
Dutch Convoy for London. We got fome Provifions 
aboard from Amfierdam on the 30th. When I came aboard, 
on the iff o i Augufi, by Content of our Council, we dif- 
charged what Men we Ihipped at Batavia and the Cape, 
and afterwards went away from Amfierdam. On the 4th, 
the Duchefs and Batchelor went up to the Road called the 
Flitter , being a better Road than the T exel. In the Even- 
ing, we had News of fome of our Owners being at the 
Hildar : Mr. Pope went to wait upon them, and, in the 
Morning, came aboard with them : After a Ihort Stay, 
they went for the Duchefs and Batchelor , defigning thence 
for Amfierdam. We welcomed them with fifteen Guns at 
their coming and going. The Englifh Eafi India Ships, 
and others, bound for England , weighed with the Dutch 
Convoy the fame Day, having a fine Gale at North-eaft. On 
the 6th, we weigh’d from the Texel, and went up to our 
Conforts, it being by a particular Order from the Owners, 
for our better Security, being obliged to wait here, fearing 
the India Company would be troublefome, although we 
had dealt for nothing but Neceffaries in India. In order to 
obviate this, and convince the World, as well as the Eafi 
India Company, of our Honefty and good Conduct in this 
refpeft, the Officers firft drew up an Affidavit, fetting forth, 
there never was any Commerce carried on in the Indies , 
or any TranfaCtions of buying and felling, but for Pro- 
vifions, and other Things, for the Ships ; and, that no 
Sufpicion might remain, an Abftrad of our Journal was 
drawn up, and the beft Part of the Ship’s Company vo- 
luntarily fwore to it. On the 19th in the Afternoon, we 
had News of our Convoy lying without the Tex el j which 
was very acceptable to the Crews of each Ship, who were 
in the utmoft Uneafinefs at our long Stay, being juft at 
home, fo that we had much ado to keep the Companies 
aboard, till now we got every thing in Readinefs, in order 
for falling down to them. On the 20th, about five in the 
Afternoon, we got down to the Texel , where we found 
our Convoy at Anchor, being the EJfex , Canterbury , Med- 
•way, and Dunwich Men of War. On the 2 2d in the 
Morning, the Wind being at North-eaft, we weighed from 
the Texel, and by ten of the Clock got dear of the Chanel. 
In the Afternoon, tne Commodore took the Batchelor in 
tow •, and next Morning, the Wind being againft us, we 
bore away again for the Harbour as did like wife four 
Dutch Men of War, that came out with us, bound for 
London f After feeing us fafe in, he ftood oft' to the North- 
ward, with the Canterbury and Medway , but came in the 
next Morning. On the 24th, our Officers met, where, 
ccniulting, that our three Ships wanted Neceffaries to keep 
the Sea, in cafe _ we ffiould meet with bad Weather, we 
requefted Captain Roffey our Commodore, that he would 
pieafe to flay, ffiould the Wind be fair, till fuch time as 
we could be provided with the faid Neceffaries from Am- 
fierdam ; wnich was granted. On the 30th, at Break of 
Day we weighed, as did likewife four Dutch Men of War. 
n t e iff of Ottober, about eleven o’Clock, we came to 
an Anchor in the Downs , where feveral of our Owners 
came on board ; and, after they had vifited every Ship, 
went on ffiore with fome Prifoners, to examine them about 
N umb. 13. 
our Capture, &c. At three this Morning, the EJfex made 
a Signal to unmoor ; and betwixt nine and ten weigh’d, he 
being ordered up to the Buoy in the Nore , and we to make 
the beft of our Way to the Hope. October 14. at eleven 
o’Clock, we and our Confort got up to Erijf, where we 
came to an Anchor, which ends our long and fatiguing 
Voyage. 
4 1 . It was owing to this Expedition of Woodies Rogers , that 
the Spirit of Privateering in the South Seas was not totally 
loft in England ,, where abundance of Art had been ufed to 
propagate an Opinion, that it was limply impoffible for 
any Privateer Squadron to act with Succefs, at leaft for 
their Owners ; and that, if any thing was taken, it muft be 
in a bucanneering Way, that is, for the foie Advantage of 
the Crew : But, in all thefe refpe&s, this Voyage has un- 
deceived us, and plainly ffiewn, that, under proper Com- 
mand, our People are able to do as great Things now, as 
ever they did in the Days of Elizabeth ; and, indeed, it is 
offering the greateft Indignity to our Seamen to think 
otherwife. Amongft the reft of the Bug-bears invented to 
terrify our People from going into thole Seas, one was, the 
dreadful Treatment they met with from the Spaniards , 
when, by any Accident, they fell into their Hands. As 
to this, Captain Rogers has fet the Matter in its true 
Light. He deplores the Lofs of Mr. Hatley in the moft 
affeCting Terms; probably from an Opinion, that he 
might be ftarved at Sea, or forced to live affiore on fome 
of the barren Gallapagos Iflands •, but he very fairly tells 
us, that, after that Gentleman fell into the Elands of the 
Spaniards , he was very kindly treated, and fent up to 
Lima as a Prifoner of War, which was what he had Reafon 
to expeCt. It is indeed true, that, when he and his Boat’s 
Company landed at Cape Pafiao , and furrendered them- 
felves, they were very barbaroufly ufed, having their 
Hands tied behind them, hungup by their Necks, and 
almoft half-fiayed with V/ hips : But then, by whom was 
this done? Why, by a mixed People, the Off-fpring of 
Negroes and Indians , who bore an implacable Hatred to 
every Man of a white Complexion, out of mere Averfion 
to the Spaniards. In this Di ft refs they had probably ended 
their Days, but for a rrieft, who interpofed, and preferved 
them. As for the Englifimcn , that remained in that Coun- 
try, (which is perhaps the hardeft Cafe that can be put, 
with refpedt to the Danger of thofe Expeditions) Captain 
Str adding, of whom we have faid fo much in the laid 
Sedition, after returning fafe to London , though he remained 
long a Prifoner in thofe Countries, gives us the following 
Account of their Condition, melancholy indeed, as Exiles 
from their native Country, but not very frightful in other 
refpeCts. 
44 In Mexico , the Prifoners, who are employed in cut- 
“ ting Logwood, have no way to efcape the Severity of 
44 the Spaniards , but to turn Papifts, and be baptized after 
“ their manner : Then they have the Liberty to chufe a 
44 Godfather, who is generally a Man of Note, and they 
44 ferve him as a F'ootman in Livery. One Boyfe , who 
44 joined Captain R ogers at Guiaquil, was baptized there by an 
“ Abbot in the Cathedral of Mexico •, had Salt put in his 
44 Mouth, and Oil poured upon his Head ; and ffiiall Par- 
44 cels of Cotton, which rubbed it off, were diftribituted 
44 as precious Relics among the Penitents, becaufe taken 
44 off the Flead of a converted Heretic, as they called him. 
44 The native Spaniards enjoy all Polls in the Church and 
44 Monafteries, and admit no Indians , nor any mixed Breed, 
44 to thofe Preferments-, which they think a neceffary Piece 
44 of Policy, that they may the better keep the Country 
44 in Subjection to Spain. Some of thofe Prifoners, who 
44 are forced to be pretended Converts, do now-and-then 
44 make their Efcape, tho* it be dangerous to attempt it ; 
44 for, if taken, they are generally confined to the Work- 
44 houfes for Life. There are feveral EngUJhmen , who were 
44 Prifoners in this Country, that, by Compliance, have 
44 obtained their Liberty ; particularly one Thomas Bull , 
44 who was born in Dover , and taken in Campeche. He 
44 was a Clockmaker, had 'been eighteen Years here, and 
44 was about forty-five Years old, lives in the Province of 
44 Tabafco , and grown very rich. One Captain Thompfon, 
44 born in the Ifie of Wight , had been here about twenty 
44 Years, is about fifty Years old,- grown rich, .and com- 
3 A 44 manded 
