Of Captain Mission and His Crew | Page 9

he, after this, desired
they would chuse their subaltern Officers, and give them Power to
consult and conclude upon what might be for the common Interest, and
bind themselves down by an Oath to agree to what such Officers and he
should determine: This they readily gave into. The School-Master they
chose for second Lieutenant, Jean Besace they nominated for third, and
the Boatswain, and a Quarter-Master, named Matthieu le Tondu, with
the Gunner, they desired might be their Representatives in Council.

The Choice was approved, and that every Thing might pass
methodically, and with general Approbation, they were called into the
great Cabbin, and the Question put, what Course they should steer? The
Captain proposed the Spanish Coast as the most probable to afford
them rich Prizes: This was agreed upon by all. The Boatswain then
asked what Colours they should fight under, and advised Black as most
terrifying; but Caraccioli objected, that they were no Pyrates, but Men
who were resolved to assert that Liberty which God and Nature gave
them, and own no Subjection to any, farther than was for the common
Good of all: That indeed, Obedience to Governors was necessary, when
they knew and acted up to the Duty of their Function; were vigilant
Guardians of the Peoples Rights and Liberties; saw that Justice was
equally distributed; were Barriers against the Rich and Powerful, when
they attempted to oppress the Weaker; when they suffered none of the
one Hand to grow immensely rich, either by his own or his Ancestors
Encroachments; nor on the other, any to be wretchedly miserable,
either by falling into the Hands of Villains, unmerciful Creditors, or
other Misfortunes. While he had Eyes impartial, and allowed nothing
but Merit to distinguish between Man and Man; and instead of being a
Burthen to the People by his luxurious life, he was by his Care for, and
Protection of them, a real Father, and in every Thing acted with the
equal and impartial Justice of a Parent: But when a Governor, who is
the Minister of the People, thinks himself rais'd to this Dignity, that he
may spend his Days in Pomp and Luxury, looking upon his Subjects as
so many Slaves, created for his Use and Pleasure, and therefore leaves
them and their Affairs to the immeasurable Avarice and Tyranny of
some one whom he has chosen for his Favourite, when nothing but
Oppression, Poverty, and all the Miseries of Life flow from such an
Administration; that he lavishes away the Lives and Fortunes of the
People, either to gratify his Ambition, or to support the Cause of some
neighbouring Prince, that he may in Return, strengthen his Hands
should his People exert themselves in Defence of their native Rights; or
should he run into unnecessary Wars, by the rash and thoughtless
Councils of his Favourite, and not able to make Head against the
Enemy he has rashly or wantonly brought upon his Hands, and buy a
Peace (which is the present Case of France, as every one knows, by
supporting King James, and afterwards proclaiming his Son) and drain

the Subject; should the Peoples Trade be wilfully neglected, for private
Interests, and while their Ships of War lie idle in their Harbours, suffer
their Vessels to be taken; and the Enemy not only intercepts all
Commerce, but insults their Coasts: It speaks a generous and great Soul
to shake off the Yoak; and if we cannot redress our Wrongs, withdraw
from sharing the Miseries which meaner Spirits submit to, and scorn to
yield to the Tyranny. Such Men are we, and, if the World, as
Experience may convince us it will, makes War upon us, the Law of
Nature empowers us not only to be on the defensive, but also on the
offensive Part. As we then do not proceed upon the same Ground with
Pyrates, who are Men of dissolute Lives and no Principles, let us scorn
to take their Colours: Ours is a brave, a just, an innocent, and a noble
Cause; the Cause of Liberty. I therefore advise a white Ensign, with
Liberty painted in the Fly, and if you like the Motto, a Deo a Libertate,
for God and Liberty, as an Emblem of our Uprightness and Resolution.
The Cabbin Door was left open, and the Bulk Head which was of
Canvas rowled up, the Steerage being full of Men, who lent an attentive
Ear, they cried, _Liberty, Liberty; we are free Men_: Vive the brave
Captain Misson and the noble Lieutenant Caraccioli. This short
Council breaking up, every Thing belonging to the deceased Captain,
and the other Officers, and Men lost in the Engagement, was brought
upon Deck and over-hawled; the Money ordered to be put into a Chest,
and the Carpenter to clap on a Padlock for,