Spanish West
Indies_. The _Mermaid_ Man-of-War, which was a convoy to some
Merchant-men, about 30 leagues distance, would have gone to attack
them, had not the Merchants, whom he had the care of, declar'd their
protection was of more service than destroying the Pirates; and so he
was oblig'd to be content with only dispatching the news of it to
_Jamaica_. This brought down the _Lanceston_, though it was a day or
two too late, for they had just before surrendered, with all their
riches, to the Governor of _Porto-Bello_, where they now live upon
their Spoils, saying, others would have done as much, had they had the
same opportunity; swearing, _That whatever Robberies they had
committed they are not the only Rogues in the World; for that the
South-Sea[A] did more Mischief in one Year, than they were able to do
in their whole Lives_.

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTE:

[A] The South-Sea Bubble.

[Illustration: CAPTAIN JOHN GOW]

[Illustration]

CAPTAIN JOHN GOW, _ALIAS_ SMITH, AND HIS CREW

_John Gow_, alias _Smith_, was born at a place called _Caristoun_, in
the _Orkney_ Islands, and was brought up a sailor from his youth,
having served on board several Men-of-War, and last of all on board
the _Suffolk_, along with _T. Swan_, who was engaged with him in the
conspiracy to murder Captain _Ferneau_, and seize the ship and cargoe,
as they went off the _Texel_, but they were prevented by _James
Belvin_, who was led into the secret and discovered it. Captain
_Ferneau_ taking little notice of it, contented himself with turning
off _Swan_, and preferred _Gow_ to be second Mate and Gunner.

They sailed on board the _George_ Galley, August the 1st, 1724, from
the _Texel_ to _Santa Cruz_, having 15000_l._ on board, when Gow
designed to have seized the Ship as they went out, but could not get a
party strong enough to join with him, till he worked up a
misunderstanding between the Captain and part of the crew, concerning
the provisions of the ship, particularly _Winter_, _Peterson_, _and
Mc.Cawley_, who came upon the Quarter-Deck, in presence of the Owners,
just before they sailed, and made a long complaint against the
Captain; who assured them that if there was any wrong done them, it
was not by his consent; and that he would enquire into it as soon as
they had unmoored the ship.

About eight a clock at night, Captain _Ferneau_, as usual, called them
up to prayers in the great Cabin, and then set the watch, and we