Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/48

have Commiſſions from you, and in Reality are ſheltered under your Government, is the Occaſion of my ſending the Bearer Captain Chamberlain, Commander of his Majeſty’s Snow Happy, to demand Satiſfaction of you for ſo many notorious Robberies which your People have lately committed on the King’s Subjects of this Iſland; particularly by thoſe Traytors, Nicolas Brown and Chriſtopher Winter, to whom you have given Protection. Such Proceedings as theſe are not only a Breach of the Law of Nations, but muſt appear to the World of a very extraordinary Nature, when conſidered that the Subjects of a Prince in Amity and Friendſhip with another, ſhould give Countenance and encourage ſuch vile Practices. I confeſs I have had long Patience, and declined uſing any violent Meaſures to obtain Satisfaction, hoping the Ceſſation of Arms, ſo happily concluded upon between our reſpective Sovereigns, would have put an effectual Stop to thoſe Diſorders; but on the contrary, I now find the Port of Trinidado a Receptacle to Villains of all Nations. I do therefore think fit to acquaint you, and aſſure you in the King my Maſter’s Name, that if I do meet with any of your Rogues for the future upon the Coaſt of this Iſland, I will order them to be hanged directly without Mercy; and I expect and demand of you to make ample Reſtitution to Captain Chamberlain or all the Negroes which the ſaid Brown and Winter have lately taken off from the North-Side of this Iſland, and alſo of ſuch Sloops and other Effects as they have been taken and robbed of, ſince the Ceſſation of Arms, and that you will deliver up to the Bearer ſuch Engliſh Men as are now detained, or otherwiſe remain at Trinidado; and alſo expect you will hereafter forbear granting any Commiſſions, or ſuffer any ſuch

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