Hender Molesworth letter to William Blathwayt, 1686 August 31

4 pages

My last was of the 6th Current per Captain Knapman, in whose
Company this Ship (aboard whom John Webber is a prisoner) should haue sayled,
but being accidentally hindered that day, he stayed about a week longer;
& afterwards puting to Sea, found some defects in his ship, which obleiged him
to returne againe for this Port, to refit her, by him I haue writ my Lord
Sunderland, all that is necessary relateing unto the said John Webber, wherof
I make noe repetition here,

The ffrigats are returned from Looking after Banister the Second time,
but they found his Ship Burn'd haueing been soe disabled by theire Shot, that
the Pryvateers neuer attempted the getting her out, but went away in the little
Vessell, which was noe prize as we before thought, but a fire Ship belonging to a
french pryvateer, that had been on the Coast of Guinie, & was designed for the South
Seas, whom this vessell Lost off the Cape de verd Islands, from whence makeing
the best of theire way for Petty Guaues, She put in there by chance, being of
Acquaintance with a french man, that belonged unto Bannister,

Upon Captain Sprag's first getting up, (who was there about 8. dayes before Captain
Talbot) he discouered upwards of 20 men on the little Island, who fired seuerall
smal Shot at him, but imediately fled ouer to the maine & it was very proba
bly imagined by him, that Bannister was amongst them, The french after
the disableing of his Ship, refuseing to let him haue any Command with them, & tis
also belieued, that some of the french in the Disputes they had with him, set fire to
the Ship. Captain Sprag brought away in a Sloop that he had with him, 20. of her
best Guns, but the Sloop is not yet come into Port, haueing been by Stress
of Weather forced into the Northside of the Island, & there to make some repaires
I am

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I am now sending out the Drake, to wayt for a Sloop that is suspected to be
gone for Some of the South Sea men that were of the Company of the Six mention'd in
my last, & parted from them at Matanza, in the Country of Darrien, according to
the accomopt giuen by the person Examined,

I haue not hitherto used any dilligence for the Seizeing of the other five, for that
it will giue an alarme to those I lay in wayt for, & possibly be a mean's
of looseing them,to but I intend, as soon as I see what will become of those. I Expect
I shall use all possible care I can, to seize all such as are to be found, & bring them
to Condigne punishment, which may better be done after a little while that they grow
secure, then it could be done at first, when they were under theire greatest Caution

The Assembly haueing made some other proposalls' about rayseing the mony
(wherein still they tooke care to saue themselues) & past the bill once in theire
house, but being Such as I could not agree unto I sent for them, & plainly told them;
that all other methods would prove in vaine, & that there was noe other way
but to tax themselues, which I would know whither they would doe or noe before they
proceeded to any thing due, (they being then upon the Negro Bill,) & that I was
resolued the business should be done Effectually to all intents (as well for payment
of the Contracted Debts, & the partys that serued formerly, as for a future fond.) and
in the manner as it ought to be, or not at all, & therefor desired that it might
imediately be put to the vote, whither they would Tax themselues or noe, which they
did, & it was carryed Only by the Chairman, that they would Tax themselues. &cca,
but the next day, when the other party was strengthned by a vote or two of such as
was sick the Day before, they began to doe all they could to Confound that vote,
soe that when it was proposed, upon what the Tax Should be layd, the Major
part was for land, & to doe it by the Acre, which was soe unequall, that they
Expected it would neuer pass, the Difference in land being soe great, that whereas
some Ares are worth £20 an Acre, there are others, that are not worth
halfe a Crowne an Acre, wherefore the Court drawing nigh, I prorogued them
to the 16th September, giueing time to those that liue farthest off, to see theire
Intrest & Aduise with theire Principall's, soe that the business will be uery
Short

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Short at theire next meeting, when they must either, Resolue to Rayse the
mony upon themselues by some Equal Tax, or leave all things else undone,
for that I don't intend, they shall proceed either upon the Negro Bill which is soe
necessary for them or any other business whatsoeuer, untill that be done,
what Billes I haue already past are vizt. An Act for ascertaining the servitude
of the Rebell's &ca And an Act for better Recouery of his Majesties fines & forfitures,
with Three Other short private Billes, all which I intend to send home per Captain Stubbs
for his Majesties Royall Assent, unless the Assembly giues me Occation to stay for
some others that may be preparing, soe as to send them alltogeather
which being the needfull of what I remember at present, I subscribe with much
justice, & Respect,

Mr, Blathwayte

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Jamaica 31 August 1686
From Colonel Molesworth
Received 10 December 1686

John Webber sent Prisoner hence
Bannister's Ship Burnt
Captain Sprag has brought
away 20 of her base Guns

The Drake is in Search
of a Sloop with some of
the South Sea Men

The Assembly not agreeing
to Tax themselves are prorogued
to 16: September

Some Acts past

Entered February 3d. Jamaica: page 191.

Ink on paper