elanya

From A Crusing Voyage Round the World Woodes Rogers, 1712.



The scene - after waiting over a month for the rich Manila galleon to sail into sight of the Tre marias islands off the coast of California, Rogers assessed their provision and found that they had only a week of leeway for the trip across the pacific to Guam, the next place where they could restock. So they decided to give up and hope to profit from the other ships they'd taken and the plunder from Guyanquil. The very next day, they spot a sail. Uncertain of whether it might be the Marquiss, the third ship in their squadron besides Rogers's ship Duke and the Dutchess Commanded by Captain Courtney. If anyone has any questions about anything I can do my best to explain what's going on, but mostly what there is to take from this is that Woodes Rogers is hardcore awesome.

I've taken out all the random capitalization for speed of typing, but otherwise left the grammar intact. Typos are my own.

Dec. 22 [1709].

We had very little wind all yesterday afternoon; so that we near'd the ship very slowly, and the boat not returning kept us in a languishing condition, and occasioned several wagers, whether 't was Marquiss or the Acapulco ship. We kept sight of our boat, and could not perceive her to go aboard the ship, but made towards Dutchess's pinnace, who was rowing to them; they lay together some time, then the Dutchess's boat went back to their ship again, and ours kept dogging the stranger, tho' at a good distance, which gave us great hope that 'twas the Manila ship. I sent Mr. Frye aboard the Dutchess in our yawl, to know what news, and if the ship was not the Marquiss to agree how to engage her. We then hoisted a French ensign, and fired a gun, which the stranger answer'd. Mr. Frye return'd with the joyful news that it was the ship we had so impatiently waited for, and despair'd of seeing her. We agreed the two pinnaces should tend her all night, and keep showing false fires, that we might know whereabouts they and the chase was; and if we were so fortunate to come up with her together, agreed to board her at once. We made a clear ship at night, made everything in a readiness to engage her at day-break, and kept a very good lookout all night for the boat's false fires, which we saw and answer'd frequently. At day-break we saw the chase upon our weather-bow, about a league from us, the Dutchess a-head of her to leeward about half as far. Towards 6 out boart came aboard, having kept very near the chase all night, and receive'd no damage, but told us the Dutchess pass'd her by in the night, and she fired 2 shot at them, but they return'd none. We had no wind, but got out 8 of our ship's oars, and rowed above an hour; then there sprung up a small breeze. I order'd a large kettle of chocolate to be made for our ship's company (having no spiritous liquor to give them;) then we went to prayers, and before we had concluded were disturb'd by the enemy's firing at us. They had barrels hanging at each yard-arm, that look'd like powder barrels, to deter us from boarding 'em. About 8 a clock we began to engage her by our selves, for the Dutchess being to leeward, and having little wind, did not come up. The enemy fired her stern chase upon us first, which we returned with our fore chase several times, till we came nearer, and when close aboard each other, we gave her several broadsides, plying our small arms very briskly, which they return'd as thick a while, but did not ply their great guns half so fast as we. After some time we shot a little a-head of them, lay thwart her hawse close aboard, and plyed them so warmly that she soon struck her colours two thirds down. By this time the Dutchess came up, and fired about 5 guns, with a volley of small shot, but the enemy having submitted, made no return. We sent our pinnace aboard, and brought the captain with the officers away, and having examin'd 'em, found there was another ship came out of Manila with them, of a bigger burthen, having about 40 brass guns mounted, and as many patereroes; but they told us they lost her company some 3 months ago, and reckon'd she was got to Acapulco before this time, she sailing better than this ship. This prize was call'd by the long name of Nostra Seniora de la Incarnacion Disenganio, Sit John Picherty commander; she had 20 guns, 20 patereroes, and 193 men aboard, whereof 9 were kill'd, 10 wounded, and several blown up and burnt with powder. We engag'd 'em about 3 glasses, i which time we had only my self and another man wounded. I was shot thro' the left cheek, the bullet struck away great part of my upper jaw, and several of my teeth, part of which dropt down upon the deck, where I fell; the other, Wiliam Powell, an Irish lands-man, was slightly wounded in the buttock. They did us no great damage in our rigging, but a shot disabled our mizen mast. I was forced to write what I would say, to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffer'd by speaking.

Dec.23. After we had put our ships to right again, we stood in for the harbour, which bore N.E. of us, distant about 7 leagues. Our surgeons went aboard the prize to dress the wounded men.

Dec.24. Bout 4 yesterday afternoon, we got to anchor in port Segura in 25 fathom water, found the marquiss in a sailing posture, and all the company much over joy'd at our good fortune. In the night I felt something clog my throat, which I swallow'd with much pain, and suppose it's a part of my jaw bone, or the shot, which we can't yet give an account of. I soon recovered myself; but my throat and head being very much swelled, have much ado to swallow any sort of liquids for sustenance....

After this point, the make plans to try and catch the other manila ship, but because they didn't get to do much in this fight the officers of the Dutchess and the Marquiss want to go without the Duke, while they fix the ship up and Rogers recovers. There are a bunch of references to his not being able to speak properly, or eat, and such, for the next little while. I wonder if Mr. Powell was one of shanmonster's ancestors?