A True Relation, of the Lives and Deaths of the two most Famous English Pyrats, Purser, and Clinton; who lived in the Reigne of Queene ELIZABETH.
Together with the particul [...]r actions of their Takings, and undertakings
With other pleasant Passages which hapned before their surprizall worth the observing.
LONDON Printed by Io. Okes. 1639.
The Lives and Deaths of the two most Famous Pirats, of that age wherein they lived, (In the time of Queene ELIZABETH:) Purser and Clinton.
Together with the particular Actions of their taking, and undertakings.
Chap. 1. Of the power of Iustice.
IUstice is a vertue that giveth no man any or the least priviledge to defraude another, of yt which he may call his owne; besides she is figured like a Uirgin, who giveth to all men what is theirs, by even and equall proportions: The Philosophers make foure sorts thereof; the first they call Caelestiall which is Divine, the second Naturall, which consisteth in our selves; the third Civell; the fourth Iudiciall: [Page] The first which is called Celestiall, is defined to be a true and exact consideration, with an humble & dutifull acknowledgement of God. Naturall Iustice is that which is borne with us, and every man hath in himselfe by nature; that which we call Civill, consisteth either of what our owne best condition stirrs and prompts us to doe, or what the suffrage of the people, the the consultation of the Senate; the will and power of Princes, or the Authority of grave and wise men, inioynes us to kéepe and observe. Iudiciall is that which propperly belongeth to the Bench, & is grounded upon Statutes & Lawes; instituted and made for the benefit and profit of the Common-weale, to the depression of vice, and incouragement of vertue.
Chap. 2. Wherefore the Lawes were made.
NOw to see these things faithfully and punctuall kept, were the Lawes first devised and ordained; the vertues whereof, are to beare sway powerfully to restraine and forbid things gently, to punish and chastice Malefactors severely; but errors committed by ignorance, fo censure mercifully: under these foure heads may our inioyned obedience to the Law be comprehended, which is also by the Law strictly imposed: namely, to live honestly, to hurt no man [Page] willingly; to render every man his owne carefully, and to extort from no man forcibly: It further tyeth us, to love our Prince loyally, to keepe his Lawes cheerefully; to defend our Country valiantly, and to provide for our particular families indulgently: Besides, the rigour of the Law was devised to no other end, but to curbe, and bridle those refractory & rebellious spirits, who else would live without all regularity or reason; for these three things are chiefely to be acknowledg [...], and obeyed▪ with all one God, one King; one Law: and whosoever breaketh one of them, transgresseth in all: for God hath the sole & absolute power in himselfe, who saith obey the King: He hath also a Uice-royall Regency from his Creator, (whose substitute he is) and He saith obey the Law; & therefore, these ministers under him, to whom power is given to execute the law, have their authority from above; as not to be murmured at, or any way opposed. Now, of two famous Pirats I am to frame my discourse, Purser, and Clinton; whose irregular & and illegall lives, as they were notoriously famous, so their deaths and ends w [...]re as remarkably infamous.
Chap. 3. All ill actions ought to be awarded.
EUery bad attempt and evill performance, beget not onely shame, and infamy, which gall the conscience before death, and survive long after death; for they are dyde of so déepe a colour, that they are very difficultly to bee washed off by oblivion: He that by any dishonest act shall lose his good name, draweth himselfe into a[?] wretched and miserable predicament; for good men will not beléeve him, bad men will not obey him; few men that will accompany him, no man at all will befriend him: They that accustome themselves to swime in vice, there is no commiseration to be taken of them if they sinke in vanity.
Cicero inveighing against Cateline, saith; that his naughty and infamous life, hath not onely defamed himselfe, but so obscured the glory of his predecessors; that though they before had béene of great name and eminence, in the City and Common-weale, yet hee had drown'd all their vertues in Laethe, and buried them in darke forgetfulnesse: Better it is for a man to dye for vertues sake, than to live with dishonour. To shut up all this monitory counsaile in a word, I conclude with Solon; Wretched and most infortunate is that man, [Page] whose life the people mourne and lamrnt; and at whose death they Clappe their hands and rejoyce.
Chap. 4. Of all the famous men of Warre, and Pirats which have lived: and the occasion of Ships of Warre.
OF Land-theeves I have no purpose to speake at all, but onely of those called Piratae, that is, Sea-rovers; or men of Warre, but most commonly called Pirats: purposing to give you a briefe tast of some few forrei [...]e, before I come to those more domestick; that by comparing the one with the other, it may manifestly appeare, wch of them have excelled or (more propperly) erceeded the other.
Lucan remembreth us of one Basilius an arch robber by Sea, and the same Author in the list of those Marine Rovers, reckoneth Sextus Pompeinus the Son of Pompey the great, in these or the like words:
One Ninus was his Uice-admirall, & under [Page] him, and by his countenance commanded all ye Italian Seas, pillaging and robbing the maritine coasts thereof; not onely to the great hurt and dammage of the Marchants, whose course say through the Adriatick Sea, but infested sundry Coasts, by landing on divers continents, burning and spoyling all the Sea-bordering Townes, and Uillages; insomuch that by this inhumane cruelty, they were left desolate and uninhabited.
Of the same function and rebellious condition was one Curpulus, deboucht in his life, and infamous in his actions: and another cald Icaron, who had not onely equald, but rather super exceeded the former in his direptions and robberies: parraleld with these may be Rhotho, and Rhotones, both Rutenians; who troubled both Land and Sea, with almost unheard of rapine and cruelty; to whom we may adde onely Thorias, and Bezo: Many other of the like condition, who lived in the former ages, and places remoate: I might very opportunely here introduce, whom for brevities sake I omit, &c.
Yet to shew how ancient this sea-theeving hath bin, and even upon our owne Coasts: We reade that King Edgar being ye thirtieth King from Brute, amongst other of his politicke actions, used in the Summer season to scower ye [Page] Seas with certaine ships of warre, to free the foure Seas of pirats, and robbers, who much troubled the Land; and against winter hee made provision, to lay the said ships in sure & safe harbours, and havens; and had ever in his owne service, and billited in the houses of his Lords and Peeres, a certaine number of Souldiers, Pilots, and Mariners, that were ever at present command, when the King had any use of them; his Ship-masters also were in wages with him through out the yeare, that ever attended those Ships, to see that nothing were wanting; by meanes whereof he kept his Land in great peace & quietnes, free from the danger of all forreigne enemies.
It is also reported of this King Edgar, by divers approved and Authentick Cronologers, that upon a time being at Chester, hee entred the river of Dee, and sitting in a new barge for that purpose, hee himselfe tooke the charge of the helme, and was the steares-man; and was rowed by eight Contributary Kings which hée commanded to row him up and downe the Riunto ye Church of St. Thomas, and from thence backe againe to his owne Pallace; to shew that he was sole Soveraigne of so many provinces: amongst them was numbred a Romane Arch pirate, whom hee surprised; who was called Maxentius, and after was Elected [Page] Emperour, and woare the Imperiall purple.
In the yeare of our Redemption one thousand three hundred forty nine, and in the five and twentieth of the Raigne of King Edward the third, a great pirate cald Don Charles, suggested by King Iohn of France (great warre being then betweene the two Kingdomes) with a mighty Navy of Spaniards, entred into our English streames, and did much dammage to the Land; insomuch that the King prepared a fleete to incounter him, and met wt him uppon the Coast of Winchelsee, where betwixt the two Navies was a long and terrible conflict, to the great losse of both sides; but in the end the victory fell to his Maiesty of England, who chased his enemies, tooke of them 22. saile, with a great number of prisoners.
In the yeare one thousand three hundred seventy, nine, in the second yeare of Richard the second, who was then but a child; one Sir Oliver De Clicon a French Pirate, committed sundry out rages, and landed in divers places of this Kingdome, who did much harme; and lastly entred the river Thames, and so came up as high as Graves end, where hee spoyled the Towne without any resistance; burning a great part thereof, and departed with great aboundance of riches.
But in the yeare one thousand foure hundred [Page] and, eightéene, and the sixt of King Henry the first, certaine French men of warre, of whom the Uicount of Narbon was chiefe Captaine: committed great spoyle upon our Coast, robbing our Marchants, and pillaging ye sea Townes and Uillages, of which the King hearing, being then at a place cald Toke in Normandy, he sent the Earle of March, the Earle of Huntington, with others to scower the seas, who encountred the fore-said pirats; and after a long and cruell fight, vanquished and overcame them: this battle was fought uppon the ninth of August, in which ye Uicount who was admirall of the Fleet, and one Captaine Mountney who was Uice admirall, were both of them surprised & taken prisoners, in which ships they found great treasure, which they had got by pillaging and robbing; which after served the King to pay his souldiers.
In the third yeare of the Raigne of King Henry the Eight, the Lord Howard surprised at Sea, a famous pirate called Andrew Barton a Scotch-man, with two faire shops and an hundred men in them: and in the thirty seventh yeare of his Reigne, were taken by the Kings ships, and those that belonged to the English Coasts, to the number of three hundred French ships and more, which were robbers, and pillagers at sea.
[Page]We reade also in the first yeare of King Edward the sixt, being in the yeare of our Redemption, one thousand five hundred forty and seven, in ye moneth of March; Sr Andrew Dudley who was at that time Uice admirall, with the Pinnace, and the Heart (being but small ships and single manned) had a great conflict with three Scottish pirats, who were double manned, and had great store of Ordnance, who met them in the narrow Seas, and obtained of them a memorable victory; as taking many prisoners, & bringing their ships into Orwell haven, where they long after remained.
And now at this time, in this present yeare one thousand sixe hundred thirty seven, Captaine Rainsborugh with two of the Kings ships, and three other belonging to the Merchants, by ye helpe of the Moores by Land have to the great honour of our Nation, taken in Sally, a great receptacle, and refuge for Pirats, who preyed upon all Merchants who past through those Seas, surprising those rebellious sea-robbers and releasing many Christian captives, who miserably were inforced naked, and chain'd, to tug at the Oares of their Gallies.
Chap. 5. Of the first acquaintance of Purser and Clinton, and how they began their attempt to rob the Merchants Ships, and others from time to time: and of their bold carriage, and state they kept in their Shippe.
I Come now to speake of those two parties proposed for my second discourse, (omitting many since their dayes, notorious for pyracy as the Dutch Danseter, and of our owns Nation Bishop & Ward, who turned renegade, & after lived amongst the Turkes, with others:) namely Purser, so commonly cald because he had béene Purser of one of her Maiesties Ships Royall, whose name was Thomas Walton, and Clinton, who was an apprentise[?] in the upper part of new Fish-street Hill, who utterly abandoning his former Trade, gave his minde onely to Sea, turned Navigator, and in severall Merchants ships, had made sundry Commodious and prosperous voyages, in which hée so applyed himselfe to the Compasse, that he was able to guid or conduct any Shippe to all the [Page] parts of Christendome or further, and bring her backe againe.
These two béeing growne into familiar acquaintance, and both of them of haughty and ambitious spirits, having divers meetings, they at length began to discourse betwixt themselves, that in regard of their experience and skill in Navigation, what basenesse it was in them to bée no better than servants, who had both the Iudgement, and ability to command, and to bée onely Imployed to benefit and inrich others, whilst they in the Interim wanted themselves: They further reasoned that service was no heritage, and that in regard they had eyther of them béene more than a prentiship to learne their Art, it was now high time to be freemen of the Sea, and set up for theteselves: This was soone concluded on, but how might bee as easily compassed, there lay the difficulty.
To take oft[?] which, they often consulted together, but still when any likely proiect offered it selfe unto them, the way to accomplish it did more and more perplexe them: Insomuch that since likelihoods faild them, they would determine upon impossibilities, and rather then not to bée seen in the eye of the world resolute, they would appeare [Page] desperate: the one alleadging that courage begun with a deliberate constancy, and continued without change, doth seldome or never faile. The other seconding it thus, that valour[?] Conquers the enemy before the field be fought; and moreover, the courage of a man is seene in the resolution of his death, concluding, that thunder terrifieth Children, and threatnings feare fooles; but nothing can affright or dismay such as are of courage and resolution: to whom the former replide, that they were confident in their purpose, that the dye was already cast, and it was a meane folly for a man to feare that which hee cannot shun; and who so feareth every storme or tempest, is neither fit for to bee a Traveller or a Souldier.
Thus having one heartned and incouraged the other, as first to win gold and after to weare gold (according to the Proverbe) they made a voyage to Plimmonth, where they sounded many discontented saylers, and acquainting them with their purpose, drew them with much facility into their faction: And promising to themselves golden mountaines, who had before grazed upon barraine mole hils, they had got a gathering together of some fifty tall fellowes, every one provided with a good Musket, and aiming at a small [Page] Barke, which lay then well victualed, and sufficiently provided in the roade, they surprised her in the night, weighed Anchor, and away they went to Sea to try a desperate[?] fortune; which for the present so smiled upon[?] them, that within few dayes they met with a Spanish Merchant, well laden, and indifferently provided of Ordnance, with other sea munition, who making no shew of opposition, and the other not minding them in regard of the smalnesse of their Barke, they came up so close by them, that finding themselves by reason of their lownesse of the vessell, and the talenesse of the other, to bee out of ye danger of her Ordnance, they suddenly, ere the other were well aware, clapt close to her side, and every one of them having his Musket ready charged, they boorded her without any great resistance; a sudden feare in the one, and a predicated resolution in the other, being greatly to their advantage.
When having siezed upon the Merchant, and the chiefest officers in the Ship, it was easie for them to command the rest at their pleasure: the first they locked close in a Cabbin, the other they disarmed, and then Purser and Clinton went downe into the hole, to take full view of their fraight and lading, and finding it every way to answer their expectation, [Page] and that the shippe it selfe was very tight and serviceable to their purpose, they resolved amongst them selves to make her their owne, and in her to try a second fortune. Briefly, they cald for the Master and the owner,
and putting them into their small barke, gave them some bisket and wine of their owne store, so much as they thought would serve to passe them into their owne Country without starving, and so hoysed sayle and left them.
[Page]And now being so well accommodated with a vessell, victuall, and Ordnance; they thought themselves to be halfe Lords at the sea, for there was scarsly any sayle they met with, which (trusting to their courage and fortune) they did not thinke themselves able to incounter with: and where those two meet and conspire together, what is unpossible, not onely to be attempted, but almost compassed. The second they met with was a Turkish man of Warre, and though of no extraordinary great burthen, yet well man'd, and furnisht with all munition, necessary for a Pirate and sea-robber; the one haled the other, both were alike resolute, and neither of them willing to strike sayle, and now here was thiefe robbe thiefe; a cruell fight was begun, and the victory uncertaine to whom it would fall, some were slaine on both sides: but at length a fortunate shot from the English, split the maine sayle of the Turkish vessell, by which they were made unable to sayle, and being suddenly becalm'd were ready to stand at the others mercy: This put spirit in the one, and feare in the other; for fly they could not, no stand out they were not able, and to yeeld they were loath; in this detraction and demurre, came another shot from the English, and strooke the Turke betweene wind and water, which made [Page] all their hearts to sinke as low as their heeles, and theirs of the adverse party, to mount as hye as from their breast unto their braines, crying aloud Saint George, and a maine for the Queene of England, and withall grapled with her, and made a bold attempt to board her soone, but small opposition was made in the entry; for their ship being by reason of the former leake redy to founder, they thought it more safe to stand to the mercy of men, than to trust to the unplacable fury of the sea: But they found small comfort in either, for the English being now Uictors, they hanged up the Captaine and prime officers of the maine yard, in regard they found them to be Infidels, with some other; the rest they kept as slaves to helpe to man both vessels, dispersing some in the one, and some into the other, because by that meanes they might have the better command of them: and having stopped the leake, and pumped the ship dry, they repaired their Mast, and now they were Masters and owners of two sufficient and able vessels.
If they before were bold, the successe of this second victory made them insolent; and now no single shippe whom they thought they were able to over-master, could escape them unrifled and unrob'd, still changing their vessels when they could meet with any more [Page] commodious for their use, and taking out of them such Marriners as they thought most able to manne them, swearing them to their owne faction; till at length they had si vs lusty and tall ships at their command, & all bravely accommodated, insomuch that they had their Admirall, Uice-admirall, and reare-Admirall, &c. Some times they kept along the Coast of Spaine, sometimes they watched in the mouth of the Straights, not sparing Spaniard, Fleming, French-man, Scot, Biskaine, nay, their owne Countrimen; and still what Merchandise and commodities they robbed upon one Coast, they vended on another, insomuch that within two or three yeares they were infinitely rich, not a Saylor amongst them of what low degree soever, but could show his Barbary Cheekens, Flemish Angels, English Rose Nobles, French Cardecues, Italian Duckets, Spanish Pistolets, and peices of Eight in plenty, for the Pillage which they had got and sold.
Chap. 6. The places which they used to robbe the Merchants at Sea.
THeir Randevous was some times at Gibralter, sometimes at Angeeres; then againe you should heare of their exploits in [Page] the Cumaries,, and about the Islands of Majory and Minory, and sometimes at Cape bon Esperansa, Saint Georges Channell, and the Irish seas, certaine no where, nor constant to any one Channell; neither was there scarce any Sea-towne, either in this our owne Kingdome, or else where, in which they would not command victuall, and other commodities which they wanted, (for their mony) sending their long Boates a shore to fetch them at their pleasure: the Magistrates of those places, fearing to deny them, because not able to withstand them.
The Second Part of the two Famous Pirats; Purser and Clinton: Shewing how they were taken; and what manner of Death they suffered for their offence.
Chapter 1. The complaint and losse of many Shippes, caused the Queene to send out her Admirall, to take them.
SO many of their insufferable Insolencies, aggravated with grievous complaints, comming to Queene Elizabeth her Maiesties Eare, who was a mercifull and gracious Princesse, and who was ever a Royall incourager of all brave and resolute spirits: She thought rather by her clemency to reclaime them, than by her Power utterly [Page] to subvert them; and if it were possible to reduce them to their former fidelity and obedience: and to that purpose she caused a Flyboate, or light Horse-man, to bee dispatcht, with her gracious pardon if they would submit
themselves; with a large promise upon her Royall word, and under her broad Seale of their imployment in her owne Navy, so they would prove themselves true and Loyall Subiects.
To cut of circumstance, this small Barke the Uice-admirall be stirred her selfe, that by [Page] inquiring for them at sea of some Merchants who had paid tole to them for their passage, and others who with no small danger had escaped them that discovered them, about the mouth of the Straights, where they ambush for all such as Traded in those Seas, and haling them, (and hanging out a Flag of Truce, the Captaine was commanded aboord their Admirall.
Chapter 2. The Pirats resolution what to doe in this case, with the respects they gave to the Queenes Pardon or Letter.
IN which the two Arch Pirats were at that time sitting in Counsell, where they kept a great state, and were attended as if they had beene no lesse than two Princes, and rivall Commanders of the maine Ocean, whom he presented with their free reputation from her Maiesty, with the conditions before specified, which at first they with great reverence seem'd to respect, as by kissing the Seale, and other signes of humility, when causing him to bee entertained with all the choise rarities aboord, they told him that after Dinner hee should receive his answer, which expecting according to the time appointed, [Page] whilst their followers plide him with healths to her Maiesty, and to some other Peeres of the Realme, they two with some others of the prime about them, retired themselves into a private Cabin, to consult what in that case was best to bee done: some thought it was the best and surest course, to take the advantage of their free and generall pardon, others againe held that it was no other than a state pollicy to forfeit their Ships and goods, because uniustly extorted from others, and withall to insinuate their lives: these things were Pro et con long debated, but the latter prevailed, with a consideration that they were then free Commanders at sea, and to submit themselves upon such faire and sugred promises were but a certaine entrance into their future and utter ruine: upon which having concluded they cald to the Captaine, and returned unto him this answer.
True it was, that they were much bound to her sacred Maiesty for so great a grace and mercy, as to pardon offenders in that high degree; such as they acknowledge themselves, and that they made no doubt, but that her highnesse in her owne Royall disposition, meant no otherwise than was there in her most gracious Letters specified: but there was another feare and doubt to bee made, namely of the [Page] strict Court of the Admiralty, which seldome or never had any mercy of any who had transgressed in that nature; besides, they presupposed that many grievous complaints had beene commensed against them; of which, though many were uniustly conferred upon them, yet they were not able to cleare themselves of all: and since the least of any were of force sufficient, not onely to strip them of all their fortunes, but forfeit their neckes to the Gallowes; they thought it was the safer course for them of ye two, to hazard their fortunes bravely abroad, than by submitting themselves endanger their lives basely at home, howsoever they held themselves much obliged to her Maiesties great grace and goodnesse, &c. and with this answer they dismist the Captaine.
Chap. 3. The relation of the Captaine to the Queenes Counsell of the Pirats; with the Proclamations which was sent forth to Proclaime them Traytors.
WHo not a little glad to bée so well and fairely dismist from the hands of a crew of such desperate and dangerous robbers, [Page] made what speede hée could into England, and before her Maiesties Counsell, delivered every circumstance before related, who wisely perceiving in their smooth and excusive answer, a perverse and obstrinate boldnesse, gave present order that Proclamation should bee made through the Kingdome, but especially in all the port Townes, and Cities adiacent to the Sea; that they should thenceforth bee held no better than enemies unto the State, and meere rebells and Traytors to their Queene and Country, which was accordingly with all expedition performed.
And heere a pleasant accident I am loath to overpasse, in the executing of these publications: a Pursevant by reason of riding in the wet, and thereby catching so great a cold, that hée had such an horsnesse that hee could bée scarcely heard to speake twice his lengthes distant from him, agreed with a plaine and crafty Country fellow, who had a cleare audable voyce to speake from his mouth, as hee should dictate unto him, who comming into one of these maritine Townes upon a market day, and in the market place set upon an empty Cart, and he standing close behind him with the Proclamation in his hand, prompts him as followeth.
WHereas the two famous Rovers of the sea, (who thus answered him) Whereas the two famous Rogues of the sea,
He proceeds, Purser and Clinton: who ecchoeth to him againe, Who hath lost their Purses at the Clinke:
Notwithstanding her Maiesties Proclamation: [Page]Answer, Notwithstanding her Majesties Declaration:
Still kéepe out: sayth the pursevant. Answer. And they will not come in.
The Pursevant hearing him speake so out of order began to grow angry, and said, I bad thee say, and still keep out: who replide againe, And they will not come in.
And why (said the Pursevant) not as well keepe out? Is it not all one (answered the fellow) For all the while they keepe out, you see they doe not offer to run in.
The Pursevant said, How am I troubled with his Cocks-combe: Hee ecchoed to him againe, How am I troubled with this Cocks-combe: But I see there is no remedy. But I see there is no remedy.
The Pursevant proceeded againe, and said, Who have lately robb'd divers of our ships: Who have lately rob'd divers shivers of our Chippes. Persev. Well, I see I must indure it: [Page]Well, I see I must indure it: And flung the chiefest Merchants over board, And flung the Merchants Cheeses over board,
Thou art a pretious rascall, and I will
complaine of thee: Thou art a pretious rascall, and Ile complaine of thee. [Page]Doe I not bid thee say after me? And doe I not say after thee?
But what soever he bee, man of Warre or Merchant: But whatsoever hee bee that deales in waxe, or Parchment; Who can bring in these Pirats, Ships, or heads. Who can bring in these Picruft, or Sheepes heads.
O intollerable. O intollerable.
Shall have for his reware, Shall have in that regard, A thousand pound sterling. A thousand Steerlings (if hee can tell how to catch them.)
This it is for me to bee hoarse. This it is for mee to bee thicke of hearing.
And so God save her Maiesty. And so God blesse her Majesty.
[Page] Why that in the end was well. Why and is not all well that ends well.
Some other discourse past betwixt them, which no doubt was much more pleasing to the auditors in the action, than I can make plausible to the Readers in the relation: howsoever, this fellow was a Sayler, and thought to bee a favourite of that piraticall faction. But enough of this discourse, which is as a merry passage to please the Reader; and now I procéed in the next Chapter to tell you how they were surprised, and by whom.
Chap. 4. The manner how they were taken, and by whom; and what manner of death they dyed: and where.
I Have shewed you their lives, I come now to make a briefe expression of the manner of their surprisall and their deaths: [Page] Her Maiesty being still more and more troubled with the complaints of their insolencies and outrages, gave a large Commission to one Captaine Borrowes, who was a Noble
Sea man, and at that time Reare Admirall of her Navy Royall, to finde out these Arch-rebels, and to bring them in at what rate soever, who being of an active braine, [Page] and an ingenious disposition, knew that Pirats were sooner to bee undermined by policy than by force, and by stratagem rather than strength; and knowing withall, that they were at that time inbarkt in a shippe which (for the swiftnesse of sayle) they called the Swallow, for shee was able to winde and turne any shippe, to goe on, and come off at her pleasure: Hee therefore provided himselfe of an Hulke, or hoy of slow sayle but great burthen, and stuffe it with able Souldiers well accomodated for that designe, with few or no Ordnance to bee seene, and so went upon his discovery; and having intelligence upon what Coast they then commonly haunted, he made thither, which happened at such a time when the Fleet was disperst upon sundry adventures; and the Swallow in which Purser and Clinton were then both aboard was onely visible.
The Pirats had no sooner discovered her from a farre, but towards her they make with all spéede possible, in hope of some great purchase; and the nearer they approached her, the more they were incouraged by reason of her great burthen, and her drone-like sayle; and comming neare unto her, they hayled her, and bid Amaine for [Page] the Sea; (a phrase onely used by Pirats:) shee one the other side side seemed to make from them with what hast shee could, and made no resistance at all, but suffered the
Pirats to lay grapples upon her, which the Captaine (I meane Burrowes) perceiving, caused double grapples to bee laid upon them, and having fastned both shippes [Page] so together that they could not bee sundred, he suddainely discovered an hundred men well armed, who violently entred the Swallow, (they being scarse halfe that number) and so surprised them, and brought both their ship and men to London, where they were presently sent to the Marshalsees, and there lay for some wéekes in prison.
They were Arraigned at Saint Margerets in South-warke, convicted, and condemned; and two dayes after brought by the Officers [Page] out of the Marshalsees, (with a silver Oare borne before them) and conducted through South-warke over the Bridge, through London, and so to Wapping, and to the place of execution there, where they appeared as brave in habite, as bold in spirit: some of their garments they then wore, they distributed amongst their private friends who came to see them dye, that they might remember them after their deaths. Many questions were asked them concerning their Piracies, which they punctually resolved: desiring first, pardon of all men whom they had wronged, and then remission of their sinnes from God, whom they had most heinously offended: when imbracing one the other in their armes, it seemed they no more ioyfully lived together than they were willing to dye together: and so being at once turned off from the Ladder, it appeared to all the multitude that were then present, that they could not live more irregularly, than they dyed resolutely: and so there they hanging till from that ebbe two Tydes had overwhelmed their bodies, which were after taken downe, and committed to Christian buriall. And thus you have heard, the true relation of of the lives and deaths of the two most famous English Pirats of that age, Purser and Clinton.
[Page]The chiefest and most remarkable passage in all this time, was William, Lord Somerset, Earle of Worcester, who sent Embassadour into France, was likewise to stand instead of her Maiesty, for baptising of the Kings daughter there; her Maiesty sent with him a Font of pure gold for that same purpose, weighing three hundred and twenty sixe ounces. At the Christning he gave the child to name Elizabeth; and returned into England atter he and his traine had bin royally entertained. Likewise, at his passage by sea into England, he had notice of divers sea Pirats which kept the narrow seas, did much harme and outrage, by robberies; they were so bold that they attempted the robbing of the same ship the Earle of Worcester was in; where hee lost divers goods of great valew. Complaint was made by him to her Maiesty, and forthwith was there three good ships, whereof one was her Maiesties, called the Swallow, which was appointed to be the Admirall, under the command of William Holstocke Esquire, Controuller of her Maiesties ships: where hee did such good service, that he scoured the narrow Seas; and tooke and fired twenty ships, and Barkes of sundry Nations, which were all Pirats: as English, French, and Flemish; he apprehended in those vessels the number of 900 [Page] men of severall Nations, and sent them bound to wards Sand witch, Dover, Ile of Wight, and Portsmouth; whereof three of them that were in this company, robbed the Earle of Worcester: who were all shortly after executed at the Ile of Wight; and some of them in other places. Also at the same time, the aforesaid William Holstocke, did rescue and take from the abovesaid Pirats fleet, other Merchants Ships, which were well fraughted with divers commodities, that they had newly taken, and were their prises; all which he set free both with their goods and vessels; and for the space of three yeares all was in a quiet and peaceable manner, none plundred or robbed, but a free passage was too and fro in all parts and places of the Coasts of England.
One more strange accident I will relate, which our Histories and Chronicles doth afford for truth, which is of a terrible earthquake which hapned in London, and almost generally throughout England, that caused such amazement of the people, as was wonderfull for the time, and caused them to make their earnest prayers unto Almighty God, for their safe deliverance in such tempestuous stormes: The great Clocke bell in the Pallace at Westminster, strucke of it selfe against the hammer with the violence of the earthquake, [Page] as divers clockes and bels in the City else where did the like: The Gentlemen of the Temple being at supper, ran from the Tables, and out of their Hall in a great maze; there did fall a peece of the Temple Church at that time, and divers stones from the Church of St. Pauls London: And at Christ-Church in the Sermon time, a stone fell from the roofe of the Church, and killed an Apprentise, and hurt another, so that they both dyed in the space of foure houres: Divers others were sore hurt, and much wounded with running out of the Church. Likewise in this earthquake, many Chimnies in the City were falne downe, and many houses much shaken and rent by the violence of this storme. This earthquake continued in or about London not above one quarter of an houre, and was no more felt or heard: But East-ward in Kent, and on the Sea coast, it was felt three times as long. Moreover, it is credibly told of many honest men, that five miles from Blonsdon in Wilt-shiere, a cry of hounds were heard in the aire, the selfe same day that the earthquake was; and the noyse was so great that was made, that they seemed to be three or foure score couple of hounds: whereat divers Gentlemen tooke their Greyhounds, thinking that some had bin hunting in the Chase, yet some of them that went out of [Page] their houses, seeing nothing below abroad, cast up their eyes towards the skies, and there they espied in the aire five or sixe hounds perfectly; all which in a more ample and large discourse, thou maist finde in Howes Chronicle.
Divers other earthquakes hath hapned in former yeares, which for brevity sake I will omit, because I feare they will prove distastfull: but let us all thinke of them, and be mindfull of Gods iudgements, for they are not to be slighted or cast behind us; but let us know that they bee warnings sent from God, to cause us to repent; and forsake our evill wayes.