The Pirates of Malabar, and An Englishwoman in India Two Hundred Years Ago | Page 8

two of them died. In vain Gilliam contrived to send a letter to the
Surat factory, asking that they might be claimed as British subjects.
President Harris knew that the least interest shown in the fate of the
rovers would be fatal to the interests of the Company, and was relieved
when he heard that they had been sent to Aurungzeeb's camp; after
which they are heard of no more.
In the beginning of 1692, authority was given to the Company's
commanders to seize pirates and hold them till the King's pleasure was
known, but the measure was of small effect. The pirates were prime
seamen, who outsailed and outfought the Company's ships; while
among the Company's crews they had numerous sympathizers. The
prizes to be gained were so great and the risks so small, that the
Company could hardly restrain their own men from joining the sea
rovers. Thus, in 1694, John Steel[1] ran away with the long boat of the
Ruby frigate. Sixteen others who had plotted to join him were detected
in time, and clapped in irons. The French and Dutch gave passes to all
who applied for them, so Steel placed himself under French protection,
and for two years 'that rogue Steel' finds frequent mention in the coast
letters. Four years later Steel was arrested in England. But though the
directors had been supplied with many accounts of his misdeeds, no
sworn evidence could be produced against him, so Steel escaped

scot-free.
All other pirates, however, were destined to be eclipsed in fame by
Henry Every, alias Bridgman,[2] who now made his appearance in the
Indian seas. His exploits, the great wealth he amassed by piracy, and
his reputed marriage with a Mogul princess, continued to excite the
public mind long after he had disappeared from the scene. Several
biographies of him were written, one of them attributed to Defoe, all of
them containing great exaggerations; and a play, The Successful Pirate,
was written in his honour. His biographers generally give his name as
John Avery, but it was as is here given. According to the account of
Van Broeck, a Dutchman, who was detained on board his ship for a
time, and was on good terms with him, he was born at Plymouth, the
son of a trading captain who had served in the navy under Blake. Every
himself served in the navy, in the Resolution and Edgar, before he got
the command of a merchant ship, in which he made several voyages to
the West Indies. In May, 1694, he was first mate of the Charles the
Second, one of the small squadron of English ships hired from Sir
James Houblon, by the Spanish Government, to act against French
smugglers who were troubling their Peruvian trade.[3]
The Spaniards were bad paymasters, and Houblon's squadron was
detained at Corunna three or four months, while the crews became
more and more discontented as their wages remained unpaid. As their
sense of grievance increased, a plot was formed among the most
turbulent spirits to seize a ship and turn rovers, under Every's command.
On the night of the 30th May, the captain of the Charles the Second
was made prisoner while in bed. A boat-load of men sent from the
James to prevent the capture, joined the mutineers; the cables were cut,
and the ship ran out of harbour. The captain and all who were unwilling
to join were put into a boat, and the Charles, renamed the Fancy, was
headed south for the coast of Africa. The only man detained against his
will was the doctor, as he was a useful man.
Some months were spent on the Guinea coast, where some negroes
were captured, and five ships--three English and two Danish--were
plundered and burnt. Before the end of the year Every was east of the

Cape, intent on the Red Sea traders. The first intelligence of him that
reached Bombay was in May, 1695, when three outward-bound
merchantmen reported that they had seen him at Johanna.
"Your Honor's ships going into that island gave him chase, but he was
too nimble for them by much, having taken down a great deale of his
upper works and made her exceeding snugg, which advantage being
added to her well sailing before, causes her to sail so hard now, that she
fears not who follows her. This ship will undoubtedly (go) into the Red
Sea, which will procure infinite clamours at Surat."
Accompanying this report came the following characteristic letter from
Every:--
"February y'e 28th, 1695/4.
"To all English. Commanders lett this Satisfye that I was Riding here
att this Instant in y'e Ship fancy man of Warr formerly the Charles of
y'e Spanish Expedition who departed from Croniae y'e 7th of May. 94:
Being and am now in A