Page 30

An. 1681

The Privateers separate.

was now belonging to Captain Archemboe, for all the rest of the Fleet were over-mann'd: Captain Ar- chembo wanting men, we that came out of the South Seas must either sail with him, or remain among the Indians. Indeed we found no cause to dislike the Captain; but his French Sea-men were the saddest creatures that I was ever among; for tho we had bad weather that requir'd many hands aloft, yet the biggest part of them never stirr'd out of their Ham- mocks, but to eat or ease^[1] themselves. We made a shift to find the Island the fourth day, where we met Captain Wright, who came thither the day be- fore; and had taken a Spanish Tartan, wherein were 30 men, all well armed: She had 4 Patereroes, and some long Guns placed in a Swivel on the Gunnel. They fought an hour before they yielded. The news they related was, that they came from Carta- gena in company of 11 Armadilloes (which are small Vessels of War) to seek for the Fleet of Privateers lying in the Sambaloes: that they parted from the Armadilloes 2 days before: that they were order'd to search the Sambaloes for us, and if they did not find us, then they were order'd to go to Portabell, and lye there till they had farther intelligence of us; and he supposed these Armadilloes to be now there.

We that came over Land out of the South Seas be- ing weary of living among the French, desired Cap- tain Wright to fit up his Prize the Tartan, and make a Man of War of her for us, which he at first seemed to decline; because he was settled among the French on Hispaniola, and was very well beloved both by the Governor of Petit-Guavos, and all the Gentry; and they would resent it ill, that Captain Wright, who had no occasion of Men, should be so unkind to Captain Archembo, as to seduce his Men from him; he being so meanly mann'd, that he could hardly sail his Ship with his Frenchmen. We told him