Grand Master, Presided in the Chair, went from thence at 9 to Sup with Mr. Chue, who had a Company Gent" to Spend the Evening with him, we had a Very Grand Supper, where Very merry and Broke up about 3 in the Morning.

October 6th. Went to the Ship, and from thence to Mr. Weatherheads, and to Change, had an Invitation to dine with Some Gentlemen at Mr. Richardson's in Cambridge, we where ab' 15 or 16 of us in Company, all Rhode out, in Chairs. Drank Plentifully Toasted the Ladies Singing &c. ab Dusk the Evening returned to Boston, and Spent the Evening at Cap' McGlaughlin's with some Ladies at Cards.

October 7th. Young Mr. Th° Leechmore waited of me, and Invited me to dine with him at his Father's M'. Leachmore Surveyor General of America, which I promis'd to do. Agreeable thereto M'. Abraham Wendell who being also Invited We Went to Geather, where very Kindly Received, and Introduced into the Company, where where Several Ladies viz'. Mis Leachmores, the three Miss Phips, Mis Lucie, Pegg and Beckie, Mis' Brownes &c. &c. &c. after dinner were Very Merry, Past the Evening with some Friends at Cap'. Stewarts Lodgeing.

October 8th. In the morning went to the Ship to see how the workmen went on and what was wanting, went to the Several Tradesmen &c. at I went to Weatherheads, from thence to Change, Dynd with Some Friends at Caps Lodgeing, from thence went to Cap'. Wendells, where they had not done Dinner Sat down with them to a Desart Sund". Fruit &c. and Drank Glass wine and Spent the Evening with ab' 20 Worthy Gent" at Weather Heads haves Contracted a Large Acquaintance, was not at a Loss for Comp as long as there, which made my Detaim' there Very agreeable.

October 9th. Went to the Ship and haveing Orderd the Needfull, from thence to Weatherhead and to Change, from thence home, where found Mes John and Abram Wendell Waiting for me to Go and Dine with Mr. Edmund Quincey, which we did where Dynd also Miss Tenny Wendell, and Miss Betsey DeBuke, with the Family, Mr. Quinceys and her two Daughters, after Dinner Playd Several Tunes upon the Harpsichord, and Miss Quinceys did the Like, M'. Chief Deputy Collector, Invited me to go to the Consort of which he was a Member, I went accordingly, the Performence was as well as Could be Expected, it Consisted of One Indifrent, Small Oargon, One Base Violin, One German Flute, and Four small Violins, Spent remain the Even with Cap'. Maxwill.

October 10th. After Breakfast went M'. Abraham Wendell to South End, to Markett, Boug' Several Nessasaries for the Ship, from thence to Weatherheads and to Change, went with Mr. Wendell Agreeable to Invitation to Dine with M'. Bayard, where Dynd also M'. Bohen, A Gentlem" that Courted his Daughter then, and was married the Proceeding Night, after Dinner M'. Bayard and M'. Soloman Davis, Accompanied us to the Commons, to See the Militia Drawn up, from thence went to Mr. Stones, where the Lodge was held and Parson Brockwell Presided in the Chair, and Mr. William Coffin Merch' in Boston his Deputy, from thence to Cap'. Wendells where was a Large Comp Gent" Drinking Toast and Singing Songs, the Comp' Broke up ab' 3 in the Morning. . . . October 13th. Haveing Breakfast", we Prepaird for a Rhide, the Chairs where Got Ready, M'. Ab" Wendell went on Horse back and Miss Bety Debuke and M. McGlaughlin and Spouse and Self went in Chairs, wee Passd trough Milton which is a Prety Pleasent Country Town, and arived at Scroten another Pleasant Country Town where have a Prety Prospect, Dynd at M'. Glovers a Publicans, its about 10 Miles from Boston, from thence, at the Request of M'. Edmund Quincey, halted at his Country Seat at Milton; The Country House is a Neat Brick Building, and Finely Accomodated for Comp with a Fine Hall and Large Rooms, about Ten Yards from the House is a Beautifull, Cannal, which is Supply'd by a Brook, which is well Stockt with Fine Silver Eels, we Caught a fine Parcell and Carried them Home and had them drest for Supper, the House has a Beautyfull Pleasure Garden Adjoyning it, and On the Back Part the Building is a Beautyfull Orchard with fine fruit Trees, &c. Returnd Home in the Evening &c.

October 14th. Being Sunday Dresd my Self and went with Mr. AbrahTM Wendell To Parson Coopers Meeting, but he being at Rhode Island, Parson Abot Officiated for him, his Text on the Psalms (O y of Little Faith), a very Good Discourse, Dynd at Cap'. Wendells and in the, Afternoon, went to Trinity Church, and was Introduced by M'. Coffin into his Piew, the Parson M'. Hooper Gave us an Excellent Discourse, on the follows text (the Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom). This Build is very Plain without, with Large Sash Windows, But within Verry Neat and Comodius, the Architect Modren, with a Very Neat Little Oargan Pretily Embelished, this Church have no Steeple Looks more Like a Prespetarian Meeting House.

Extracts from Capt. Francis Goelet's Journal, in New-England Historical and Genealogical Register (Boston, 1870), XXIV, 53-55 passim.

CHAPTER XIII-COMMERCE AND

CURRENCY

85. Official Protection of Pirates (1698).

BY GOVERNOR THE EARL OF BELLOMONT

Bellomont was governor of New York and Massachusetts, and set himself to root out the profession of piracy. - Bibliography: Palfrey, New England, IV, 167–195; Channing and Hart, Guide, § 105.

I

HAVE wrote largely of the General State of this Govern' in letters of this date, this is particularly to informe your Lord" in relation to Pirates and the proceeding of the late Gov' Fletcher to encourage and protect them, which I have [been] industrious to discover in obedience to repeated orders and instruct" which I have received from His Maj, most strict in the matter, and I find that those Pyrates that have given the greatest disturbance in the East Indies and Red Sea, have been either fitted from New-York or Rhode Island, and mann'd from New-York. The ships commanded by Mason, Tew, Glover and Hore, had their commissions from the Govt of New York. The three last from Fletcher. and although these Commissions (which are on record here) appear to be given only against the Kings enemies; yet it was known to all the inhabitants of this City that they were bound to the Indies and the Red sea, it being openly declared by the said Commanders, whereby they raised men and were quickly able to proceed, and so notoriously publick that it was generally believed that they had assurance from Coll: Fletcher, that they may returne with the spoyle to New York and be protected, as it will now plainly appear, by the protections he did give to them, at their return, and the rewards they gave him for them. It is likewise evident that Tew, Glover and Hore, had commissions granted them by Coll: Fletcher when none of them had any ship or vessell in Colonel Fletcher's Govern', yet they had Commissions and were permitted to raise men in New-Yorke, and the design publique of their being bound to the red sea, And Capt" Tew

that had been before a most notorious Pirate (complained of by the East India Company) on his returne from the Indies with great riches made a visit to New York, where (although a man of most mean and infamous character) he was received and caressed by Coll: Fletcher, dined and supped often with him, and appeared publickly in his coach with him, and they exchanged presents, as gold watches ettc. with one another, all this is known to most of the City, and on this Coll: Fletcher gave him his Commission. Mason's ship returned under the command of one Coats, about the year 1693, and the crew having shared the booty came into this Govern', and received incouragement, and had protections given them by Coll: Fletcher as will appear by the deposition No 1. of one Burgesse one of the Pyrats, and by N° 2. the deposition of Edward Taylor another of the Pyrates, Your Lordships will plainly see the bargain that was made by him (in behalf of the ship's crew) with Coll: Fletcher and Mr Wm Nicoll one of His Maty's Councill and the rewards they were to have, and did receive from the said Taylor and company. I have indeed promised on my honour to intercede with His Maty by your Lord's for the said Burgesse and Taylors pardons; otherwise, I should not have been able to have had their evidence and made this discovery, and therefore I must pray your Lord's favor therein, that they may have the benefit of my promise to them, which hath occasioned their criminating themselves. and I believe it much less criminal in men of their loose principles to act such things, then in a Govern' to give them such encouragement & impunity. And Coll: Fletcher received for his favour to that ship's crew, their ship which he sold to Coll: Heathcote for eight hundred pounds, besides what private presents report saith were made to his Lady and daughter; and besides his reward for particular protections which, I find were commonly rated at one hundred dollars p' man, and besides gratifications to his broaker M' Nicoll of His Majties Councill and other small rewards to his Clerk Daniell Honan, as doth appear by the said depositions. I have likewise discovered that protections were publickly exposed to sale at the said rates, to Pyrats that were of other companies and I have already gain'd some originals of which I have sent the copies inclosed N° 3. by which your Lord may see Coll: Fletchers art to get money, and how far he was from suspecting or prosecuting these Pyrats, when their guilt made them seek and buy the protection, that the lawes give all honest men, and which such had a right and claime to without purchasing Coll: Fletchers hand and seal for a further assurance, but

this I submitt to your Lordships consideration. It is indeed suggested that Coll: Fletcher took bonds from these protected Pyrates that they should not depart the province without Lycence, but I am informed, several had lycence but whether they were only colourable securities from men of invisible Substances, or what the certain condition of them was, I cannot learne, for that the said bonds are not deposited any where on behalf of His Majty nor can I find that any of the Pyrats or their bonds were ever prosecuted. Instead thereof, I find that the last mentioned protections were purchased and no bonds given for them. I also find one Coll: Bayard of His Majty Councill was broker for Coll: Fletcher in the procuring them, and your Lord will perceive what reward Coll: Fletcher and what Coll: Bayard had for their favour to these Pyrats, and the manner of their battering by the inclosed depositions N° 4 & No 5. . . .

I had likewise certain information since my arrival here, that five sayle that were seen and supposed to be Pyrates, were hovering on this Coast, and one of them landed some men on the Jerseys (as the Gov of the Jerseys acquainted me) and Enquiry, who was in the Govern', of which, when they were informed, they went on board and departed, not daring to come under my Govern' with the same assurances of safety they had before experienced, so that the alteration of the Govern is comonly reputed here to be a great loss to Coll: Fletcher on this account. On these proofs, I summoned His Majty's Council on the 8th day of May and communicated my instructions about Pyrats, and the aforesaid evidence in relation to Coll: Fletcher and Mr Wm Nicoll; and the Gentlemen of the Councill then present did expresse their abhorrence of these practices and were of opinion with me that the whole evidence should have the seal of the province affixed, and be transmitted home to His Majesty, with Coll: Fletcher a prisoner. . ..

P. S. Since my closing the foregoing I believed I had an opportunity to surprise and take a considerable number of Pyrates expected on board His Majty's ship Richmond and gave instructions and took the best measures I could in order thereto, as your Lord" will find by the inclosed copy of my letter to the Lords of the Admiralty, with the copies of the papers refered to therein, which although it had not the success I expected, yet was all that could be done therein, and which I hope will meet with your Lord" approbation. I have just now found the records of the Commissions to the Pyrats and made discovery of the bonds the Pyrates entered into to Coll: Fletcher when he granted