1690:
The War of the Grand Alliance is in its third year.
The Glorious Revolution is in its third year.
Leisler’s Rebellion in the New York colony.
First paper money issued in America.
The first of the Great Serbian Migrations (in response to Ottoman aggression).
April 1690:
Frederick Mission was a young man of 22 when he boarded the Francois, a 40-gun French frigate(1). He was an educated man but found himself an outlaw for refusing to pay what he called “unfair taxes”. Rather than find himself in jail, and as a means to escape several creditors (it seems the government wasn’t the only organization he refused to pay), he became a sailor. For a year and a day he mastered the skills necessary for life on the ocean and became respected by both the command and the crewmen.
1691:
The War of the Grand Alliance is in its fourth year (the French recapture Mons).
The Glorious Revolution: Jacobite resistance is quelled at the Battle of Aughrim.
Leisler’s Rebellion is put down in New York.
Massachusetts Bay Colony and Plymouth Colony are united into one colony by an act of the King and Queen of England.
April 1691:
On the 17th of April 1691 along the Gold Coast the Francois came upon the HMS Constant Warwick, a British frigate which matched the Francois mussel for mussel. An hour they traded broadsides before a lucky shot from the Constant Warwick clipped the foresail of the Francois; debris rained down killing many of the officers. Frederick, perhaps as a measure of self preservation, began shouting orders: there was an exchange of broadsides and a showering of grapeshot from the deck guns. The two wooden beasts ran abreast but the Constant Warwick’s sails were in better shape and so she was able to pull ahead. As the British warship began to come about (for what her captain must have thought was the killing shot), Frederick ordered the tangle mess of the mast debris cast overboard; canvas and rope caused a drag and the ship tilted port bringing her guns to bear. Perhaps a lapse in judgment, or perhaps arrogance on behalf of the British captain, in either case as the Constant Warwick was coming about the ship graced into Close Reach(2) which slowed her turn and exposed her flank. With round-shot at the ready Frederick gave the order to fire: 15 iron balls raked the aft quarter of the British warship – there was an explosion, and the enemy vessel began to sink. If Frederick had a failing it was his tendency towards clemency. When he was sure the Constant Warwick was no longer a threat he ordered the Francois into close range to pick up any survivors.
Frederick pulled 12 British sailors out of the drink– bringing the total compliment of the Francois to 215 (out of the original 300 crew 97 had died in the battle). There was talk of what to do next – hardly a man favored a return to France. In short order a decision was made to enter in business for themselves with Frederick Mission as their captain. He gave orders to make for Axim(3) – the closest friendly port where they could refit their ship.
They put into Axim under the flag of a French warship in need of repair.
May 1691:
They acquired supplies and repairs and then, on the night of the 25th of May, they sacked Axim – although Mission attempted to talk his crew out of it. They netted 5000 in goods and coin. Mission renames their vessel the Victoire.
Three days later on the 28th of May Mission chased down a Dutch fluyt(4) by the name of Mercurius – a slave ship. A single broadside and several minutes of hand-to-hand ended in the capture of the fluyt – although a sizable cache of whisky was obtained there was little to make a purse jingle. Captain Mission put off the slaves and the crew of the Mercurius, kept the fluyt, and sailed away.
June – August 1691:
Between June and August Captain Mission captured two more slave ships – a second Dutch fluyt by the name of Kameel and a Spanish galleon by the name of La Concepcion. Again, Mission put off the slaves and the crews of the two ships…although Mission records that 7 members of the Kameel opted to join his band of pirates rather than be put off ship.
In late August the crew of the Victoire was beginning to question their choice for captain. Several months at sea and the only large haul had been the raid of Axim – and Mission had been initially against that. Fearing a revolt Mission set his sights on netting something to please his crew. On the 25th of August he sighted a French merchantman(5) north of Cape Town – the name is not recorded. Though he intended to capture the ship and crew this would not be the case. In a rare expression of anger, so incensed by the stubborn fight the French vessel put up that once the battle had been won, and the crew kneeling at sword point, Mission ran the French captain through, cannibalized the merchantman of all goods and useful material, and then set it adrift with what remained of the crew. In his log book Mission’s entry for this day reads: “Today I have done a very bad thing.”
September – October 1691:
The events of late August must have weighed on Frederick Mission. For a man who typically made a log entry nearly every day there is but one for September which mentioned a storm they fought through while rounding the Cape of Good Hope. From stories we can safely say that the storm was fairly harsh and through unspecified acts of leadership and gallantry it was Mission who carried the Victoire into the Indian ocean – if the stories are to be believed very nearly single-handedly.
By mid October Mission was looking for a safe haven. The ship was in need of repair and he himself had become fatigue with life aboard ship and in part also due to some unrest aboard ship – a large store of spirits was on hand but Mission rationed the ale while at sea. Madagascar was sighted and set sail for.
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to make the attempt at colonizing the island around 1600 but after nearly 20 years of imposing themselves (and Catholic missionaries) the natives forced the Portuguese colony to disband. The French followed in 1640, establishing Fort Dauphin in 1643 (along the southeast coast), and a small colony on the Isle of Saint Mary (a small island about 12 miles off the northeast coast). Both the fort and the colony were largely abandoned in 1674 due to native troubles although a small outpost remained on Saint Mary – a war-sloop(6) as their main means of defense.
Captain Mission confronted the small outpost and its war-sloop but the French captain would deny the game on this day. Though the sloop was more maneuverable it could not match the strength of the Victoire. Knowing his crew needed a fight Mission next set them on the 25 French soldiers who had been left behind to guard the outpost (10 of the soldiers would be taken alive).
1692:
Salem witch trials begin in Salem Massachusetts.
The pivotal naval battle of La Hougue is won by the British Royal Navy (the War of the Grand Alliance enters is 5th year).
Diego de Vargas leads the Spanish to victory at Santa Fe after a 12 year exile due to the Pueblo Revolt.
November 1691 – March 1692:
Saint Mary’s became Missions port of call. He spent long weeks exploring the coast of Madagascar and ventured out to pillage the trade lanes only once his crew had vanquished the supplies on hand. More and more the crew found themselves disappointed by the raids as Mission often chased down slave ships only to free the cargo and maroon the crew, acts that would soon gain the attention of the empires that had come to depend on the slaves (the feelings of unrest among Mission’s crew were put aside once Mission began selling off some of the ships he had accumulated to Arab strongholds to the north). In early march Mission notes two changes to how he had been running things. First off, he uses his own fortune to pay some of his men to begin building things around the island – first being a proper home for himself. Secondly, he also began allowing a trusted friend and his first lieutenant, a man by the name of Henry Wilks, to command the Victoire for short excursions (Mission would remain behind to see to other projects on the island, mainly the carving up of the Mercurius to lay the ground work for a palisade and the placement of the Dutch fluyts guns to defend the small haven).
On the 23rd of March two Portuguese ships appeared on the horizon (a 10-gun brigantine(7) by the name of Pedro and a 20-gun brig(8) called the Audaz II ). The French war-sloop that had so skillfully, and cowardly, evaded the Victoire had been captured a few weeks later by the Portuguese. The ousting of the French to a lowly pirate signaled to Peter II that perhaps Portugal’s reemergence on the world stage could mean it was time to take back Madagascar. It would not be so. Mission’s island defenses were not yet completed so he set sail with the Victoire to do battle. He was able to coax the two ships apart and thus take them on one at a time. The Audaz II would have made for the better prize but she exploded. Mission would have to settle for the Pedro which surrendered after being boarded.
Though victorious in battle, and plunder enough to give each man some coin, Frederick would find that his men seemed all the more unhappy. A division was growing between those who felt they had over stayed their welcome on Saint Mary and wanted to get back out to sea and those who enjoyed the freedom of life on the island and the wages being paid to them by Mission (though one would assume that if the wages suddenly stopped so would the feeling of wellbeing towards the island and all the hard work). Though Mission and Wilks (icons for the opposing views) remained friends and did what they could to mediate between the rancorous crew it was apparent that something more drastic would need to be done.
April 1692:
The fighting among the crew continued though only two deaths are noted. Mission suspends all sea travel fearing that his ship might be forced from him once away from land.
Deciding to make his stand on land might have been Mission’s undoing if not for the arrival of the Amity, a specialized sloop (10 guns instead of the typical 8 two of which were long guns for attacking at a distance), captained by Thomas Tew. Tew and his crew were still giddy from their victory over a Mogul(9) treasure ship (which was taken without losing a single man) and had caught wind of a pirate safe-haven on Madagascar so decided to put in for some rest and recreation. Rest there was but little recreation besides drink and gambling. Nonetheless, the visit proved to calm the bluster between factions on the island.
A week later Tew was gone and Mission’s problems resurfaced.
May 1692:
On May the 17th 1692 five British men-of-wars(10) entered into sight of Saint Mary’s Island (sent by the crown to investigate the pirates who had been attaching the slave ships). The call to arms was sounded; Mission took command of the Victoire, with Wilks captaining the Pedro - the Spanish galleon La Concepcion was undermanned and so was left to guard the bay (all other prizes had either been sold or carved up for use on the island or for spare parts for the main vessels). For five hours the two fleets battled each other: the air echoed with the roar of broadsides, decks were awash in splinters, debris and body parts, sails flapped useless for the tears through the canvas. In hour two, Wilks was disemboweled by a round-shot – followed shortly after by the Pedro exploding – by this point in the battle one British ship was being swallowed by the sea and another smoked heavily. By hour five, daylight was fading fast so Mission decided on a desperate move: ram one of the enemy vessels and have the fight decided by sword point. Before action could be taken there appeared in the distance another ship – it was the Amity…but without captain Tew, who had died while battling a Mogul merchant ship. The Amity was already firing upon the remaining British ships with her long guns – by hour five, with two ships remaining, the commander of the British fleet felt it was time to cut his losses.
There was much celebrating that night – Wilks and Tew were honored and buried.
Three days later, on the night of the 20th of May, Mission’s settlement was attacked by the Sakalawa(11). They were aware that pirates had taken up refuge on the island and were fearful of the attention this was bringing. They attacked at night, assuming that a night raid would win them a quick victory, and planned on using the confiscated weapons from the pirate camp to conquer the rest of the kingdoms of Madagascar.
Mission describes the events of the 20th of May as “chaos!” He lost 50 men in the first 15 minutes and if not for the placement of the cannons from the prize ships and what protection the unfinished palisade offered all would have certainly been lost. The Sakalawa were driven back.
On the morning of the 21st of May Mission’s band of pirates had been reduced to about 400.
On the morning of the 22nd of May Mission’s band of pirates had been further reduced to about 300. 97 men forced their way onto the Amity, overpowering its crew, and sailed away.
June 1692:
Frederick Mission had come to realize that if his attempt at creating a safe-haven was going to work his colony was going to need protection. His first act was to visit the tribes of the Betsimisaraka. They were a people of the east coast and friendly enough that Mission had been doing some light trade with them that had begun not too long after his arrival on Saint Mary. The Betsimisaraka were not happy with the Sakalawa for violating their territory in order to strike at Mission and his colony (though collectively had decided to wait and see what the outcome of the attack was going to be before moving against the Sakalawa). In exchange for continued trade and protection from other Malagasy tribes(12) Mission promised to give the Betsimisaraka a small number of muskets and gunpowder.
Though aware that he was dealing with individuals that dealt heavily in the slave trade, not only intra-island but internationally as well (a subject and act Mission had a deep resentment of) he had little choice but to make the alliance.
Around mid-June Frederick Mission set sail with the Victoire – other than brief stopovers he would not return to the island for nearly two months.
July – August 1692:
Between July and August Mission looted ships bound for Europe of their silks, cloth, spices, and jewels. Ships going in the opposite direction to India were robbed of their coin, gold, and silver. He had no qualms about pillaging pilgrims either – the sea route from Surat in India and Mocha on the tip of the Arabian Peninsula was a favorite of his stalking grounds (wealthy Muslims often carried jewels and fine clothing). For every merchant or warship he looted Mission made it a point to hunt down as many slave ships. Over the course of two months between the Gold Coast and the Arabian Penninsula the Victoire captured three slave ships, setting free the cargo, and imprisoning the crew (a change from his previous actions of marooning them).
On a return trip to Saint Mary around the first of August to drop off supplies for the colony as well as 20 prostitutes who agreed (for a price of 20 gold coins each) Mission also disembarked with nearly 100 prisoners. He gave orders to twenty men (after paying them) to put the prisoners to work clearing some land for planting.
September 1692:
When Mission returned for a long needed rest he was not thrilled by the state of his colony. He describes in his log that it wasn’t the chaos (as he was himself an anarchist(13)) but the disorganization. Many of his comrades still slept where they dropped or crowded onto one of the several ships he had brought back to port. Food went to waste and filth piled up. When he set sail in July he had a plan: part one and two of that plan had, he felt, been satisfied; one: he had plundered many ships and left many survivors so that his name and deeds would spread to others of his kind (in the hopes of bringing them to his island), two: he had accumulated a large treasury with which to see to the needs of his colony. The third part of his plan lay in returning to France and acquiring a pardon…and perhaps a Letter or Marquee(14).
For now his mind had turned to matters of home. He paid for the construction of a tavern – which would also serve as a brothel. He also ordered the building of a storage house for the goods and perishables – which would serve as a store as well. He ordered that the stockade built to house the prisoners be expanded to include cells and a dry enclosure. Lastly, although he didn’t pay for this, he encouraged others to have homes built for themselves (with only 90 servants(15) - as several had died in an escape attempt and a few others were killed as examples, and a few more died due to harsh treatment - and a handful of paid pirates doing the building it would take several months for all of these plans to be finished. In part to encourage the building of homes Mission put out a call for new lieutenants and captains – a criteria for which was a certain amount of cleanliness and prestige (example: an actual building where they slept). Over the course of the next few months Mission named three new captains and 10 new lieutenants.
Captain Louis Gau was given the schooner(16) Tidwell, Captain William Yard was given the Brig Adventure, and Captain Leo Gauss was given the galleon La Concepcion.
1693:
The War of the Grand Alliance enters its 6th year (the costly victory of Landen is won by the French, Charleroi falls to the French).
The English parliament begins discussing alternative options in regards to their forced labor practices.
China concentrates foreign trade in Canton – all foreign ships are forbidden from landing anywhere eles.
February 1693:
With his colony a little more respectable Mission set sail for France in the first week of February with a minimal crew of 100 (his last order before boarding ship was that the prisoners should begin working the cleared land with the tools and seed that he had accumulated – there were a number of current pirates who in their former lives toiled on farms who could oversee the planting project).
March 1693:
With little trouble the Victoire arrived in Lorient(17) around the 28th of March. While Mission made plans to speak with the regional Intendant(18) his crew went about recruiting.
In the ensuing weeks Mission was arrested, spent ten days in jail, was then pardoned, and finally given a Letter of Marquee. After presented with Mission’s case (working in his favor was his success against British and Portuguese ships) the agreement that was finally reached was thus: Mission and those under his command would refrain from attacking French ships or French interests. Mission and those under his command would take every opportunity to engage British ships and British interests (with a focus on disrupting the English East Indian Company).
In return for this Mission and all under his command would be able to seek refuge in French ports. Added to this was the special backing of the French East Indian Company who would pay for upgrades to the Victoire and all the supplies she could carry.
In addition to this news Mission was happy to hear that his actions against the slave trade had freed an estimated 10,000 – the cost for the affected countries running into the millions as loss of property mounted and now more and more slave ships were being escorted by warships. Not only that but further disruptions were in progress as the freed slaves had formed into war parties and actively attacked slavers – both European and indigenous. There was even talk in the British parliament of reviewing their options in regards to forced labor – some were seeking to put a greater emphasis on domestic indentured servitude (which in turn would ship far more undesirables to the New World). Spain, it seems, was the only country which had redoubled its efforts to bring in more slave labor – Spain, as an empire, was in trouble; over extended, reduced returns on trade goods, a diminishing labor force, power struggles between New World governors and the crown, dynastic troubles at home.
The Victoire’s refit: 10 of her 40 guns were replaced by bronze cannons (hailed for their increase in accuracy). The hull was reinforced with iron scantlings. Nearly all of the rigging was replaced.
June 1693:
Frederick Mission returned home around the 22nd of June 1693. He was laden with wares, munitions, 150 new recruits, 10 specialists (two doctors – who didn’t really come of their own volition – several carpenters, and two cooks - self professed cooks but Mission wasn’t picky), and 5 new prostitutes.
He was also interested to find out that Saint Mary’s had been visited by two pirates of note: Henry Avery and William Kidd (Avery was particularly taken by the colony and had left behind several of his men with orders to build him a cabin).
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Notes:
1) Frigate: though there are several grades essentially a frigate is a warship typically used for patrolling and escort (the Victoire is an example of a fifth-grade frigate). A fast, square-rigged, sleek ship that was highly valued by all (not only for the expense in building but for its abilities under a good captain and crew).
2) Close Reach: this is a point of sail that approaches an upwind angle (not into the wind but near to).
3) Axim: a French port at this time (though built by the Portuguese and Dutch). A trade center and fort along the Gold Coast.
4) Fluyt: typically a cargo vessel with minimal armaments (~8-guns) and a large hold size. Small crews of 12 to 15 men and a shallow draft which allowed these ships to enter rivers, coves, and small harbors inaccessible to larger vessels.
5) Merchantman: similar to a fluyt but a larger cargo vessel which often took on passengers. It was also more heavily armed (12 to 15-guns) although generally slow and poorly maneuverable.
6) War-Sloop: a sloop is a small single mast vessel. Highly maneuverable and quick, even in light wind, with a shallow draft and despite its minimal armament (~8-guns) this ship was a favorite of pirates and privateers. A war-sloop is simply a larger version of the sloop.
7) Brigatine: a medium sized, two-masted vessel (the foremast typically square-rigged) which was highly maneuverable (quick to come about). Often used as an escort ship. The design is similar to the brig and a war-brig.
8) Brig: a medium sized, two-masted vessel (both were square rigged) used as both a warship and a cargo vessel. Well armed (~24-guns) and sturdy with a crew of about 150.
9) Mogul: the Mughal Empire was a large and powerful Indian Kingdom established in 1526 which lasted until the early 1700’s – although even as it crumbled it held sway in the region well into the 19th century.
10) Man-of-war: a warship (~70-guns) with a large crew (~250). As with frigates there are many grades – those that attacked Saint Mary were of the third-grade.
11) Sakalawa: A tribe of Madagascar which controlled the west and south. By early-1600’s they had consolidated into an organized kingdom with several allies among the smaller kingdoms. By the late 1600’s to early 1700’s the Sakalawa had begun to dissolve as a unified kingdom.
12) Malagasy: the ethnic group that makes up the people of Madagascar (generally of Malayo-Polynesian anscestry).
13) Anarchist: anarchism as a philosophy is not the absence of law or the disintegration of society but rather the absence of any recognizable or established authority. They believe in the rights of the individual v.s. the state but also encourage the work of a collective towards a common goal.
14) Letter of Marquee: issued by a government it is essentially a license to plunder thereby allowing a nation to battle an enemy without going to war (plausible deniability as it were).
15) Servants: Mission, who hated the concept of slavery, used this euphuism when speaking of his own slave labor (often interchanged with the word prisoners). His justification for this labor was that he was putting to work those who would have elsewise enslaved others.
16) Schooner: a two-masted vessel with a fore-and-aft gaff rigged sail. Fast but lightly armed (~6-gun). Used typically for scouting and coastal actions.
17) Lorient: a French port in Brittney, hub of the French East Indian Company.
18) Intendant: an appointed office used by France and Spain, similar to regional governors.
The War of the Grand Alliance is in its third year.
The Glorious Revolution is in its third year.
Leisler’s Rebellion in the New York colony.
First paper money issued in America.
The first of the Great Serbian Migrations (in response to Ottoman aggression).
April 1690:
Frederick Mission was a young man of 22 when he boarded the Francois, a 40-gun French frigate(1). He was an educated man but found himself an outlaw for refusing to pay what he called “unfair taxes”. Rather than find himself in jail, and as a means to escape several creditors (it seems the government wasn’t the only organization he refused to pay), he became a sailor. For a year and a day he mastered the skills necessary for life on the ocean and became respected by both the command and the crewmen.
1691:
The War of the Grand Alliance is in its fourth year (the French recapture Mons).
The Glorious Revolution: Jacobite resistance is quelled at the Battle of Aughrim.
Leisler’s Rebellion is put down in New York.
Massachusetts Bay Colony and Plymouth Colony are united into one colony by an act of the King and Queen of England.
April 1691:
On the 17th of April 1691 along the Gold Coast the Francois came upon the HMS Constant Warwick, a British frigate which matched the Francois mussel for mussel. An hour they traded broadsides before a lucky shot from the Constant Warwick clipped the foresail of the Francois; debris rained down killing many of the officers. Frederick, perhaps as a measure of self preservation, began shouting orders: there was an exchange of broadsides and a showering of grapeshot from the deck guns. The two wooden beasts ran abreast but the Constant Warwick’s sails were in better shape and so she was able to pull ahead. As the British warship began to come about (for what her captain must have thought was the killing shot), Frederick ordered the tangle mess of the mast debris cast overboard; canvas and rope caused a drag and the ship tilted port bringing her guns to bear. Perhaps a lapse in judgment, or perhaps arrogance on behalf of the British captain, in either case as the Constant Warwick was coming about the ship graced into Close Reach(2) which slowed her turn and exposed her flank. With round-shot at the ready Frederick gave the order to fire: 15 iron balls raked the aft quarter of the British warship – there was an explosion, and the enemy vessel began to sink. If Frederick had a failing it was his tendency towards clemency. When he was sure the Constant Warwick was no longer a threat he ordered the Francois into close range to pick up any survivors.
Frederick pulled 12 British sailors out of the drink– bringing the total compliment of the Francois to 215 (out of the original 300 crew 97 had died in the battle). There was talk of what to do next – hardly a man favored a return to France. In short order a decision was made to enter in business for themselves with Frederick Mission as their captain. He gave orders to make for Axim(3) – the closest friendly port where they could refit their ship.
They put into Axim under the flag of a French warship in need of repair.
May 1691:
They acquired supplies and repairs and then, on the night of the 25th of May, they sacked Axim – although Mission attempted to talk his crew out of it. They netted 5000 in goods and coin. Mission renames their vessel the Victoire.
Three days later on the 28th of May Mission chased down a Dutch fluyt(4) by the name of Mercurius – a slave ship. A single broadside and several minutes of hand-to-hand ended in the capture of the fluyt – although a sizable cache of whisky was obtained there was little to make a purse jingle. Captain Mission put off the slaves and the crew of the Mercurius, kept the fluyt, and sailed away.
June – August 1691:
Between June and August Captain Mission captured two more slave ships – a second Dutch fluyt by the name of Kameel and a Spanish galleon by the name of La Concepcion. Again, Mission put off the slaves and the crews of the two ships…although Mission records that 7 members of the Kameel opted to join his band of pirates rather than be put off ship.
In late August the crew of the Victoire was beginning to question their choice for captain. Several months at sea and the only large haul had been the raid of Axim – and Mission had been initially against that. Fearing a revolt Mission set his sights on netting something to please his crew. On the 25th of August he sighted a French merchantman(5) north of Cape Town – the name is not recorded. Though he intended to capture the ship and crew this would not be the case. In a rare expression of anger, so incensed by the stubborn fight the French vessel put up that once the battle had been won, and the crew kneeling at sword point, Mission ran the French captain through, cannibalized the merchantman of all goods and useful material, and then set it adrift with what remained of the crew. In his log book Mission’s entry for this day reads: “Today I have done a very bad thing.”
September – October 1691:
The events of late August must have weighed on Frederick Mission. For a man who typically made a log entry nearly every day there is but one for September which mentioned a storm they fought through while rounding the Cape of Good Hope. From stories we can safely say that the storm was fairly harsh and through unspecified acts of leadership and gallantry it was Mission who carried the Victoire into the Indian ocean – if the stories are to be believed very nearly single-handedly.
By mid October Mission was looking for a safe haven. The ship was in need of repair and he himself had become fatigue with life aboard ship and in part also due to some unrest aboard ship – a large store of spirits was on hand but Mission rationed the ale while at sea. Madagascar was sighted and set sail for.
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to make the attempt at colonizing the island around 1600 but after nearly 20 years of imposing themselves (and Catholic missionaries) the natives forced the Portuguese colony to disband. The French followed in 1640, establishing Fort Dauphin in 1643 (along the southeast coast), and a small colony on the Isle of Saint Mary (a small island about 12 miles off the northeast coast). Both the fort and the colony were largely abandoned in 1674 due to native troubles although a small outpost remained on Saint Mary – a war-sloop(6) as their main means of defense.
Captain Mission confronted the small outpost and its war-sloop but the French captain would deny the game on this day. Though the sloop was more maneuverable it could not match the strength of the Victoire. Knowing his crew needed a fight Mission next set them on the 25 French soldiers who had been left behind to guard the outpost (10 of the soldiers would be taken alive).
1692:
Salem witch trials begin in Salem Massachusetts.
The pivotal naval battle of La Hougue is won by the British Royal Navy (the War of the Grand Alliance enters is 5th year).
Diego de Vargas leads the Spanish to victory at Santa Fe after a 12 year exile due to the Pueblo Revolt.
November 1691 – March 1692:
Saint Mary’s became Missions port of call. He spent long weeks exploring the coast of Madagascar and ventured out to pillage the trade lanes only once his crew had vanquished the supplies on hand. More and more the crew found themselves disappointed by the raids as Mission often chased down slave ships only to free the cargo and maroon the crew, acts that would soon gain the attention of the empires that had come to depend on the slaves (the feelings of unrest among Mission’s crew were put aside once Mission began selling off some of the ships he had accumulated to Arab strongholds to the north). In early march Mission notes two changes to how he had been running things. First off, he uses his own fortune to pay some of his men to begin building things around the island – first being a proper home for himself. Secondly, he also began allowing a trusted friend and his first lieutenant, a man by the name of Henry Wilks, to command the Victoire for short excursions (Mission would remain behind to see to other projects on the island, mainly the carving up of the Mercurius to lay the ground work for a palisade and the placement of the Dutch fluyts guns to defend the small haven).
On the 23rd of March two Portuguese ships appeared on the horizon (a 10-gun brigantine(7) by the name of Pedro and a 20-gun brig(8) called the Audaz II ). The French war-sloop that had so skillfully, and cowardly, evaded the Victoire had been captured a few weeks later by the Portuguese. The ousting of the French to a lowly pirate signaled to Peter II that perhaps Portugal’s reemergence on the world stage could mean it was time to take back Madagascar. It would not be so. Mission’s island defenses were not yet completed so he set sail with the Victoire to do battle. He was able to coax the two ships apart and thus take them on one at a time. The Audaz II would have made for the better prize but she exploded. Mission would have to settle for the Pedro which surrendered after being boarded.
Though victorious in battle, and plunder enough to give each man some coin, Frederick would find that his men seemed all the more unhappy. A division was growing between those who felt they had over stayed their welcome on Saint Mary and wanted to get back out to sea and those who enjoyed the freedom of life on the island and the wages being paid to them by Mission (though one would assume that if the wages suddenly stopped so would the feeling of wellbeing towards the island and all the hard work). Though Mission and Wilks (icons for the opposing views) remained friends and did what they could to mediate between the rancorous crew it was apparent that something more drastic would need to be done.
April 1692:
The fighting among the crew continued though only two deaths are noted. Mission suspends all sea travel fearing that his ship might be forced from him once away from land.
Deciding to make his stand on land might have been Mission’s undoing if not for the arrival of the Amity, a specialized sloop (10 guns instead of the typical 8 two of which were long guns for attacking at a distance), captained by Thomas Tew. Tew and his crew were still giddy from their victory over a Mogul(9) treasure ship (which was taken without losing a single man) and had caught wind of a pirate safe-haven on Madagascar so decided to put in for some rest and recreation. Rest there was but little recreation besides drink and gambling. Nonetheless, the visit proved to calm the bluster between factions on the island.
A week later Tew was gone and Mission’s problems resurfaced.
May 1692:
On May the 17th 1692 five British men-of-wars(10) entered into sight of Saint Mary’s Island (sent by the crown to investigate the pirates who had been attaching the slave ships). The call to arms was sounded; Mission took command of the Victoire, with Wilks captaining the Pedro - the Spanish galleon La Concepcion was undermanned and so was left to guard the bay (all other prizes had either been sold or carved up for use on the island or for spare parts for the main vessels). For five hours the two fleets battled each other: the air echoed with the roar of broadsides, decks were awash in splinters, debris and body parts, sails flapped useless for the tears through the canvas. In hour two, Wilks was disemboweled by a round-shot – followed shortly after by the Pedro exploding – by this point in the battle one British ship was being swallowed by the sea and another smoked heavily. By hour five, daylight was fading fast so Mission decided on a desperate move: ram one of the enemy vessels and have the fight decided by sword point. Before action could be taken there appeared in the distance another ship – it was the Amity…but without captain Tew, who had died while battling a Mogul merchant ship. The Amity was already firing upon the remaining British ships with her long guns – by hour five, with two ships remaining, the commander of the British fleet felt it was time to cut his losses.
There was much celebrating that night – Wilks and Tew were honored and buried.
Three days later, on the night of the 20th of May, Mission’s settlement was attacked by the Sakalawa(11). They were aware that pirates had taken up refuge on the island and were fearful of the attention this was bringing. They attacked at night, assuming that a night raid would win them a quick victory, and planned on using the confiscated weapons from the pirate camp to conquer the rest of the kingdoms of Madagascar.
Mission describes the events of the 20th of May as “chaos!” He lost 50 men in the first 15 minutes and if not for the placement of the cannons from the prize ships and what protection the unfinished palisade offered all would have certainly been lost. The Sakalawa were driven back.
On the morning of the 21st of May Mission’s band of pirates had been reduced to about 400.
On the morning of the 22nd of May Mission’s band of pirates had been further reduced to about 300. 97 men forced their way onto the Amity, overpowering its crew, and sailed away.
June 1692:
Frederick Mission had come to realize that if his attempt at creating a safe-haven was going to work his colony was going to need protection. His first act was to visit the tribes of the Betsimisaraka. They were a people of the east coast and friendly enough that Mission had been doing some light trade with them that had begun not too long after his arrival on Saint Mary. The Betsimisaraka were not happy with the Sakalawa for violating their territory in order to strike at Mission and his colony (though collectively had decided to wait and see what the outcome of the attack was going to be before moving against the Sakalawa). In exchange for continued trade and protection from other Malagasy tribes(12) Mission promised to give the Betsimisaraka a small number of muskets and gunpowder.
Though aware that he was dealing with individuals that dealt heavily in the slave trade, not only intra-island but internationally as well (a subject and act Mission had a deep resentment of) he had little choice but to make the alliance.
Around mid-June Frederick Mission set sail with the Victoire – other than brief stopovers he would not return to the island for nearly two months.
July – August 1692:
Between July and August Mission looted ships bound for Europe of their silks, cloth, spices, and jewels. Ships going in the opposite direction to India were robbed of their coin, gold, and silver. He had no qualms about pillaging pilgrims either – the sea route from Surat in India and Mocha on the tip of the Arabian Peninsula was a favorite of his stalking grounds (wealthy Muslims often carried jewels and fine clothing). For every merchant or warship he looted Mission made it a point to hunt down as many slave ships. Over the course of two months between the Gold Coast and the Arabian Penninsula the Victoire captured three slave ships, setting free the cargo, and imprisoning the crew (a change from his previous actions of marooning them).
On a return trip to Saint Mary around the first of August to drop off supplies for the colony as well as 20 prostitutes who agreed (for a price of 20 gold coins each) Mission also disembarked with nearly 100 prisoners. He gave orders to twenty men (after paying them) to put the prisoners to work clearing some land for planting.
September 1692:
When Mission returned for a long needed rest he was not thrilled by the state of his colony. He describes in his log that it wasn’t the chaos (as he was himself an anarchist(13)) but the disorganization. Many of his comrades still slept where they dropped or crowded onto one of the several ships he had brought back to port. Food went to waste and filth piled up. When he set sail in July he had a plan: part one and two of that plan had, he felt, been satisfied; one: he had plundered many ships and left many survivors so that his name and deeds would spread to others of his kind (in the hopes of bringing them to his island), two: he had accumulated a large treasury with which to see to the needs of his colony. The third part of his plan lay in returning to France and acquiring a pardon…and perhaps a Letter or Marquee(14).
For now his mind had turned to matters of home. He paid for the construction of a tavern – which would also serve as a brothel. He also ordered the building of a storage house for the goods and perishables – which would serve as a store as well. He ordered that the stockade built to house the prisoners be expanded to include cells and a dry enclosure. Lastly, although he didn’t pay for this, he encouraged others to have homes built for themselves (with only 90 servants(15) - as several had died in an escape attempt and a few others were killed as examples, and a few more died due to harsh treatment - and a handful of paid pirates doing the building it would take several months for all of these plans to be finished. In part to encourage the building of homes Mission put out a call for new lieutenants and captains – a criteria for which was a certain amount of cleanliness and prestige (example: an actual building where they slept). Over the course of the next few months Mission named three new captains and 10 new lieutenants.
Captain Louis Gau was given the schooner(16) Tidwell, Captain William Yard was given the Brig Adventure, and Captain Leo Gauss was given the galleon La Concepcion.
1693:
The War of the Grand Alliance enters its 6th year (the costly victory of Landen is won by the French, Charleroi falls to the French).
The English parliament begins discussing alternative options in regards to their forced labor practices.
China concentrates foreign trade in Canton – all foreign ships are forbidden from landing anywhere eles.
February 1693:
With his colony a little more respectable Mission set sail for France in the first week of February with a minimal crew of 100 (his last order before boarding ship was that the prisoners should begin working the cleared land with the tools and seed that he had accumulated – there were a number of current pirates who in their former lives toiled on farms who could oversee the planting project).
March 1693:
With little trouble the Victoire arrived in Lorient(17) around the 28th of March. While Mission made plans to speak with the regional Intendant(18) his crew went about recruiting.
In the ensuing weeks Mission was arrested, spent ten days in jail, was then pardoned, and finally given a Letter of Marquee. After presented with Mission’s case (working in his favor was his success against British and Portuguese ships) the agreement that was finally reached was thus: Mission and those under his command would refrain from attacking French ships or French interests. Mission and those under his command would take every opportunity to engage British ships and British interests (with a focus on disrupting the English East Indian Company).
In return for this Mission and all under his command would be able to seek refuge in French ports. Added to this was the special backing of the French East Indian Company who would pay for upgrades to the Victoire and all the supplies she could carry.
In addition to this news Mission was happy to hear that his actions against the slave trade had freed an estimated 10,000 – the cost for the affected countries running into the millions as loss of property mounted and now more and more slave ships were being escorted by warships. Not only that but further disruptions were in progress as the freed slaves had formed into war parties and actively attacked slavers – both European and indigenous. There was even talk in the British parliament of reviewing their options in regards to forced labor – some were seeking to put a greater emphasis on domestic indentured servitude (which in turn would ship far more undesirables to the New World). Spain, it seems, was the only country which had redoubled its efforts to bring in more slave labor – Spain, as an empire, was in trouble; over extended, reduced returns on trade goods, a diminishing labor force, power struggles between New World governors and the crown, dynastic troubles at home.
The Victoire’s refit: 10 of her 40 guns were replaced by bronze cannons (hailed for their increase in accuracy). The hull was reinforced with iron scantlings. Nearly all of the rigging was replaced.
June 1693:
Frederick Mission returned home around the 22nd of June 1693. He was laden with wares, munitions, 150 new recruits, 10 specialists (two doctors – who didn’t really come of their own volition – several carpenters, and two cooks - self professed cooks but Mission wasn’t picky), and 5 new prostitutes.
He was also interested to find out that Saint Mary’s had been visited by two pirates of note: Henry Avery and William Kidd (Avery was particularly taken by the colony and had left behind several of his men with orders to build him a cabin).
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Notes:
1) Frigate: though there are several grades essentially a frigate is a warship typically used for patrolling and escort (the Victoire is an example of a fifth-grade frigate). A fast, square-rigged, sleek ship that was highly valued by all (not only for the expense in building but for its abilities under a good captain and crew).
2) Close Reach: this is a point of sail that approaches an upwind angle (not into the wind but near to).
3) Axim: a French port at this time (though built by the Portuguese and Dutch). A trade center and fort along the Gold Coast.
4) Fluyt: typically a cargo vessel with minimal armaments (~8-guns) and a large hold size. Small crews of 12 to 15 men and a shallow draft which allowed these ships to enter rivers, coves, and small harbors inaccessible to larger vessels.
5) Merchantman: similar to a fluyt but a larger cargo vessel which often took on passengers. It was also more heavily armed (12 to 15-guns) although generally slow and poorly maneuverable.
6) War-Sloop: a sloop is a small single mast vessel. Highly maneuverable and quick, even in light wind, with a shallow draft and despite its minimal armament (~8-guns) this ship was a favorite of pirates and privateers. A war-sloop is simply a larger version of the sloop.
7) Brigatine: a medium sized, two-masted vessel (the foremast typically square-rigged) which was highly maneuverable (quick to come about). Often used as an escort ship. The design is similar to the brig and a war-brig.
8) Brig: a medium sized, two-masted vessel (both were square rigged) used as both a warship and a cargo vessel. Well armed (~24-guns) and sturdy with a crew of about 150.
9) Mogul: the Mughal Empire was a large and powerful Indian Kingdom established in 1526 which lasted until the early 1700’s – although even as it crumbled it held sway in the region well into the 19th century.
10) Man-of-war: a warship (~70-guns) with a large crew (~250). As with frigates there are many grades – those that attacked Saint Mary were of the third-grade.
11) Sakalawa: A tribe of Madagascar which controlled the west and south. By early-1600’s they had consolidated into an organized kingdom with several allies among the smaller kingdoms. By the late 1600’s to early 1700’s the Sakalawa had begun to dissolve as a unified kingdom.
12) Malagasy: the ethnic group that makes up the people of Madagascar (generally of Malayo-Polynesian anscestry).
13) Anarchist: anarchism as a philosophy is not the absence of law or the disintegration of society but rather the absence of any recognizable or established authority. They believe in the rights of the individual v.s. the state but also encourage the work of a collective towards a common goal.
14) Letter of Marquee: issued by a government it is essentially a license to plunder thereby allowing a nation to battle an enemy without going to war (plausible deniability as it were).
15) Servants: Mission, who hated the concept of slavery, used this euphuism when speaking of his own slave labor (often interchanged with the word prisoners). His justification for this labor was that he was putting to work those who would have elsewise enslaved others.
16) Schooner: a two-masted vessel with a fore-and-aft gaff rigged sail. Fast but lightly armed (~6-gun). Used typically for scouting and coastal actions.
17) Lorient: a French port in Brittney, hub of the French East Indian Company.
18) Intendant: an appointed office used by France and Spain, similar to regional governors.
