Hender Molesworth letter to Sir Benjamin Bathurst, 1687 April 29

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I writ you a few Lines yesterday of
the return of Colonel Beckford from Curasau,
where he had been to make up the Accountt of
this Factory &ca And ad these upon his telling
me that it is reported for certain at Curasau
that the Byscaners at their Voyage at or near
Fantiago (off the Cape de Verdi) fell upon one
of Our East India Men bound Outward but
so unluckie for themselves, that he killed
their Generall or Commander in Chief, and about
20 Men more doing very considerable Dam
age to most of their Shipps, in so much
they were forc'd to Leaue him, the occasion
of this quarrell was said to be this, the
Byscaners had taken a ffrench man, And
as the East India Men first made them,
had abroad ffrench Colours, and afterwards put
abroad the Ragged Staffe Commanding him to
strike for the King of Spain, which he refusing
the Admirall Shott a Gunn at him, little
expecting the return he met with, which was
a whole broad side poured into him, with such
advantage that he killed their Generall with
a dozen more, after which the rest came up
with him whom he serv'd much after the same
manner, and sent them away most shamefully
baffled, pursueing his Voyage without any
apparent sign of being much damaged by
them, This vnluckie encounter at the first I
think

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I think hath dispirited them ever since,
The Dutch Traders haueing drawn themselves
up in a Body, Came before the Port where they
were at Anchor, as it were in defiance of them
whilst they never Offered to come out towards
them, all that they haue done was to fforce one
of the Traders on Shoare upon Ruby or some
of them Islands to Leward of Carasau, they
are very short of Provisions, and haue not
money to buy so they are like to Do no
miracles here, this I mention only to put
you in mind that these Shipps were agreed
upon in Spain at the same time that there
was some Treaty between his Majestie and that
Embassadour, to the like effect, whereby it evi
dently appears that they made the worst
choice, and certainly will never be able
to worke their Ends untill they Do imploy
some of his Majesty's Shipps for the clearing
of those seas of Pyrats (which at present
I thank God seems very ffree) what these
Biscaners only mind is to take Traders
[illegible] (which is their chief purchases)
But in that haue had but Little Success
and as for Pyrats theire Case seems to be
rather how to avoid, then find them out,
being not yett come downe to the Places
where they most used to frequent. Sr I am
with all faithfullness and Due respect.

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Jamacia 29th. Aprill 1687.

Letter from Mr
Hender Molesworth
to Sr. Benjamin Bathurst.