Of Captain Mission and His Crew | Page 4

p. 194; and Patrick Pringle, Jolly Roger (London, 1953), pp. 136-138.]
_Omne tulit punctum, qui miscuit utile dulci_. Hor.

THE HISTORY OF THE PYRATES. VOL. II.
OF CAPTAIN MISSON.

We can be somewhat particular in the Life of this Gentleman, because,
by very great Accident, we have got into our Hands a French
Manuscript, in which he himself gives a Detail of his Actions. He was
born in Provence, of an ancient Family; his Father, whose true Name
he conceals, was Master of a plentiful Fortune; but having a great
Number of Children, our Rover had but little Hopes of other Fortune
than what he could carve out for himself with his Sword. His Parents
took Care to give him an Education equal to his Birth. After he had
passed his Humanity and Logick, and was a tolerable Mathematician, at
the Age of Fifteen he was sent to Angiers, where he was a Year
learning His Exercises. His Father, at his Return home, would have put
him into the Musketeers; but as he was of a roving Temper, and much
affected with the Accounts he had read in Books of Travels, he chose
the Sea as a Life which abounds with more Variety, and would afford
him an Opportunity to gratify his Curiosity, by the Change of Countries
Having made this Choice, his Father, with Letters of Recommendation,
and every Thing fitting for him, sent him Voluntier on board the
Victoire, commanded by Monsieur Fourbin, his Relation. He was
received on Board with all possible Regard by the Captain, whose Ship

was at Marseilles, and was order'd to cruise soon after _Misson's_
Arrival. Nothing could be more agreeable to the Inclinations of our
Voluntier than this Cruize, which made him acquainted with the most
noted Ports of the Mediterranean, and gave him a great Insight into the
practical Part of Navigation. He grew fond of this Life, and was
resolved to be a compleat Sailor, which made him always one of the
first on a Yard Arm, either to Hand or Reef, and very inquisitive in the
different Methods of working a Ship: His Discourse was turn'd on no
other Subject, and he would often get the Boatswain and Carpenter to
teach him in their Cabbins the constituent Parts of a Ship's Hull, and
how to rigg her, which he generously paid 'em for; and tho' he spent a
great Part of his Time with these two Officers, yet he behaved himself
with such Prudence that they never attempted at a Familiarity, and
always paid the Respect due to his Family. The Ship being at Naples,
he obtained Leave of his Captain to go to Rome, which he had a great
Desire to visit. Hence we may date his Misfortunes; for, remarking the
licentious Lives of the Clergy (so different from the Regularity observ'd
among the French Ecclesiasticks,) the Luxury of the Papal Court, and
that nothing but Hulls of Religion was to be found in the Metropolis of
the Christian Church, he began to figure to himself that all Religion
was no more than a Curb upon the Minds of the Weaker, which the
wiser Sort yielded to, in Appearance only. These Sentiments, so
disadvantageous to Religion and himself, were strongly riveted by
accidentally becoming acquainted with a lewd Priest, who was, at his
Arrival (by meer Chance) his Confessor, and after that his Procurer and
Companion, for he kept him Company to his Death. One Day, having
an Opportunity, he told Misson, a Religious was a very good Life,
where a Man had a subtle enterprising Genius, and some Friends; for
such a one wou'd, in a short Time, rise to such Dignities in the Church,
the Hopes of which was the Motive of all the wiser Sort, who
voluntarily took upon them the sacerdotal Habit. That the ecclesiastical
State was govern'd with the same Policy as were secular Principalities
and Kingdoms; that what was beneficial, not what was meritorious and
virtuous, would be alone regarded. That there were no more Hopes for
a Man of Piety and Learning in the Patrimony of St. Peter, than in any
other Monarchy, nay, rather less; for this being known to be real, that
Man's rejected as a Visionary, no way fit for Employment; as one

whose Scruples might prove prejudicial; for its a Maxim, that Religion
and Politicks can never set up in one House. As to our Statesmen, don't
imagine that the Purple makes 'em less Courtiers than are those of other
Nations; they know and pursue the Reggione del Stato (a Term of Art
which means Self-Interest) with as much Cunning and as little
Conscience as any Secular; and are as artful where Art is required, and
as barefaced and impudent when their Power is great enough to