He was the son of John Avery, a victualler near Plymouth, in Devonshire, who in a few years was grown as opulent in his
purse as in his body, by scoring two for one; and when he had so done,
drinking the most of the liquor himself. By which means, and having a
handsome wife, who knew her business as well as if she had been brought
up to it from a child (which, indeed, she mostly was, her mother
keeping the House before she married Mr. Avery), they soon
became very rich and very able to give credit to a whole ship's crew
upon their tickets, which in those days were sold for less than half
their value.
Having but one child (afterwards the Captain), they at first
resolved to bring him up a scholar, that he might advance the dignity
of the family. But instead of learning his book, he was taught by such
companions that he could soon swear to every point of his compass,
which was a very diverting scene for the Boatswain and his crew, who
were then drinking in the kitchen, having just received ten pounds
apiece short allowance money on board the Revenge, every
farthing of which they spent before leaving the house.
But as soon as their money was spent, they were all like to have
been imprisoned by their Landlady for a riot, as she called it, so they
were soon glad to sheer off, and he thought himself happiest that could
get first aboard. Indeed, it would have been happy for them if they
had, for the ship was unmoored and gone to sea; which put the Boatswain
and his crew swearing in earnest, and not knowing what to do, they
resolved to return to their Landlady, Mrs. Avery, at “the Sign
of the Defiance.” But she shut them out of doors, calling them a
parcel of beggarly rascals, and swearing that if they would not go from
the door she would send for the Constable; and notwithstanding all the
entreaties and tears of her only son, who was then about six years of
age, she could not be prevailed upon to let them in, so they were
obliged to stroll about the street all night. In the morning, spying
the ship at anchor, being driven back by contrary winds, they resolved
to make the best of their way aboard; but on the way, whom should they
meet but young Avery, who had no sooner seen them, but he cried
after them. “Zounds,” says the Boatswain, “let's take the young dog
aboard, and his mother shall soon be glad to adjust the reckoning more
to our satisfaction before she shall have her son.”
This was agreed upon by all hands, and the boy was as willing as any
of them. So, stepping into the boat, in about an hour's time they
reached the ship, which they had no sooner boarded but they were
brought before the Captain, who, being in want of hands, contented
himself with bidding them all go to their business; for the wind turned
about, and there was occasion for all hands to be at work to carry out
the ship.
All this while young Avery was at the heels of the Boatswain,
and was observed to swear two oaths to one of the Boatswain's; which
being soon observed by the Captain, he inquired who brought that young
rascal aboard.
To which the Boatswain replied that he did, that the boy's mother
was his Landlady on shore, and he had taken him up in jest, but was
afraid that they would now have to keep him in earnest.
When the hurry was a little over, the Captain commanded the boy to
be brought to him in his cabin. He had not talked long to him before he
took a fancy to him, telling him that if he would be a good boy, he
should live with him.
He, being a mighty lover of children, would often divert himself by
talking to the boy, till at length he took such a fancy to him, that he
ordered him a little hammock in his own cabin, and none were so great
as the Captain and his boy Avery, which had like to have proved
very fatal to him; for Avery one night, observing the Captain to be
very drunk with some passengers that were on board, got a lighted match
and had like to have blown up the ship, had not the Gunner happened
accidentally to follow him into the store-room. This made the Captain
ever after very shy of his new Acquaintance, and Avery, after he
had been well whipped, was ordered down into the hold, where he
remained until they arrived at Carolina, which happened four or
five days after.
The boy was given to a merchant, who, taking a fancy to him, put him
to school; but he made so little progress in learning, and committed so
many unlucky tricks, that the merchant, in about three years, shipped
him off to his friends at Plymouth on board the Nonesuch,
where he was no sooner arrived but his mother was overjoyed with the
sight of her son, his father being dead about a month before his
arrival.
And, indeed, it was thought the loss of their son broke his heart,
for it was observed the father never held up his head after, the
neighbours often reflecting upon him for his ill-usage of the seamen,
who had spent so much money at his house; saying he could never expect
that all his ill-gotten riches could prosper him, which so happened, as
you shall hear presently. For his mother, dying soon after, the boy was
left under the guardianship of one Mr. Lightfoot, a merchant,
who, having great losses at sea, became a bankrupt, and so young
Avery was left to look out after himself; there he continued for
many years in pilfering and stealing till the country was too hot for
him, when he betook him to sea again, where in time he became as famous
for robbing as Cromwell for rebellion.
He entered himself on board the Duke, Captain Gibson
Commander, being one of the two ships of twenty-four guns and one
hundred men which were fitted out by the merchants of Bristol
for the service of Spain, which they had no sooner done, but
they were ordered by their agents at Bristol to sail for the
Groyne to receive their orders.
On board one of which ships Avery, being at this time above
twenty years old, entered himself, where he had not been long before he
observed the Captain was much addicted to drunkenness.
He endeavoured to spirit up not only his own ship's crew, but having
also given the word to part of the other ship's crew, the conspirators
gave the signal.
At which the Duchess, as the other ship was named, put off
her longboat; which the conspirators hailing were answered by the men
in the boat, “Is your drunken Boatswain on board?” This being the word
agreed upon, Avery answered, “All is safe;” upon which twenty lusty
fellows came aboard and joined them, which they had no sooner done but
they secured the hatches and went to work, putting to sea without any
disorder, although there were several ships in the bay, amongst whom
was a frigate of forty-four guns.
The Captain, by this time being awaked by the noise of the
conspirators working the ship, rung the bell, inquiring what was the
matter, to whom Avery and some of the crew replied, “Nothing.
Are you mutinous in your cups? Can't you lie down, sleep, and be
quiet?”
“No,” saith the Captain. “I am sure something's the matter with the
ship. Does she drive? What weather is it? Is it a storm?”
Saith Avery: “Cannot you lie quiet while you are quiet? I
tell you all's well; we are at sea in a fair wind and good weather.”
“At sea,” saith the Captain; “that can't be.”
“Be not frightened,” saith Avery, “and I'll tell you. You must note,
I am now the Captain of the ship; nay, you must turn out, for this is
my cabin, and I am bound for Madagascar, to make my own fortune
as well as my companions.”
The Captain, being more terrified than ever, did not know what to
say, which Avery perceiving, bid him take heart. “For,” saith
he, “if you will join me and these brave fellows, my companions, in
time you may get some post under me. If not, step into the longboat and
get about your business.”
This the Captain was glad to hear, but yet began to expostulate with
them upon the injustice of such doings. Saith Avery: “What do I
care? Every man for himself. Come, come, Captain, if you will go, get
you gone; the longboat waits for you, and if there be any more cowards
in the ship, you may all go together.” Which words so affrighted the
whole crew, that there was not above nine or ten of them that durst
venture, who made the best of their way to the shore as fast as they
could, and thought they were well off.
The Captain was no sooner gone, but they called a Council, which
agreed to own Avery as their Captain; which he accepted of with
all humility imaginable, seeming to excuse himself on account of his
inexperience at sea. But he did it so artfully that it more confirmed
them in the good opinion of their choice. “Gentlemen,” said he, “what
we have done we must live or die by; let us all be hearty and of one
mind, and I don't question but we shall make our fortune in a little
time. I propose that we sail first to Madagascar, where we may
settle a correspondence, in order to secure our retreats, whenever we
think fit to lie by.”
To which they all agreed, “Nemine contradicente.”
“But hold,” saith Avery; “it is necessary that we make some
order among us, for the better governing of the ship's crew.” Which
were in a few days drawn up by the clerk of the ship.
And Avery promising them vast things, they all came into them
at last, although some things went very much against the grain of many
of them.
It took up all their spare time till they arrived at Madagascar, where they saw a Ship lying at the N.E. part of the Island, with which
the men had run away from New England; and seeing Avery,
they supposed that he had been sent after them to take them, but
Avery soon undeceived them, and promised them protection; therefore
they resolved to sail together. In the whole company, there was not
above ten that pretended to any skill in navigation; for Avery
himself could neither write nor read very well, he being chosen Captain
of the Duke purely for his courage and contrivance.
In the latitude of Descada, one of the Islands, they took two
other sloops, which supplied them with provisions, and then they agreed
to proceed to the West Indies; and coming to Barbadoes,
they fell in with a ship for London with twelve guns, from which
they took some clothes and money, ten barrels of powder, ten casks of
beef, and several other goods, and five of her men, and then let her
go. From thence he went to the Island of Dominico, and watered;
there he met with six Englishmen, who willingly entered with
Avery. They stayed not long before they sailed for the Granada
Island to clean their ships; which being known to the French
Colony, the Governor of Martenico sent four sloops well manned
after them. But they stayed there not long, but made the best of their
way for Newfoundland, entering the harbour of Trepasse
with black colours, drums beating, and trumpets sounding.
It is impossible to relate the havoc they made there, burning all
before them. When they left Newfoundland they sailed for the
West Indies, and from thence to the Island Descada, it being
judged the most convenient place, at that time of the year, to meet
with a rich booty.
From hence they steered towards the Arabian Coast, near the
River Indus, where, spying a sail, they gave chase. At their
near approach she hoisted Mogul colours and seemed as if she
would stand upon her defence, whilst Avery contented himself by
cannonading her at a distance, which made many of his men begin to
mutiny, thinking him a coward.
But Avery knew better, and commanding his sloops to attack
her, one in the Bow, and the rest on the Quarter, clapt her on board,
upon which she struck her colours and yielded. Aboard her was one of
the Mogul's own daughters, with several persons of distinction,
who were carrying rich offerings of jewels and other valuable presents
to Mecca; which booty was the more considerable, because these
people always travel with great magnificence, having all their slaves
and attendants always with them, besides jewels and great sums of money
to defray the charges. But Avery, not content with this, seized
the young Princess, and taking her with him into his own ship, made the
best of his way to Madagascar, where she soon broke her heart
and died. Also her father, the Great Mogul, did no sooner hear
of it but he threatened all Europe with revenge. And when he
knew they were Englishmen who had captured his daughter and
robbed him, he threatened to send a mighty army, with fire and sword,
to extirpate all the English from their settlements on the
Indian Coasts, which gave no small uneasiness to the Indian
Company at London, when they heard of it.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: CAPTAIN JOHN RACKHAM]
[Illustration]