Page:Daring deeds of famous pirates; true stories of the stirring adventures, bravery and resource of pirates, filibusters & buccaneers (1917).djvu/86

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

forwarded particulars of his fellow pirates, their "maintainers and victuallers of me and my companies." This list contained the names and addresses of the purchasers and receivers of goods which had been pillaged from two Portuguese, one French, a Spanish and a Scotch ship, which Calles and a Captain Sturges of Rochelle had pirated. If he were given his liberty, this loquacious corsair further promised that he would also bring in a Danish ship, which he had pirated. He promised also to warn Walsyngham to take care that Sulivan Bere of Berehaven "does not practise any treason" towards Her Majesty there, as he alleged that Sulivan had told Calles in the former's castle at Berehaven that James Fitzmorris and a number of Frenchmen were determined to land there if they could obtain pilots to guide them thither. The old pirate further alleged that they had tried to persuade himself to join them and become their guide, promising him "large gifts." "But I would not join any rebel of Her Majesty," he wrote grandiloquently, "hoping her mercy in time to come."

Last March, he went on, while he was riding at anchor at Torbay, he met a Frenchman, commanded by Captain Molloner, who came aboard Calles's ship and sought information regarding the Irish coast and the best harbours. Calles informed him the best were Cork and Kinsale. His inquirers then asked whether Berehaven and Dingell were not good places where to land. "They told me if I would go over with them to France, I need not fear the Queen for any offence I had done." The French King would pardon him for anything Calles had done against His Majesty's subjects, and would give him 3000 crowns to become his subject and be sworn his man, as well as a yearly fee during life. "I asked him why his master wanted to use me, and he said his master shortly meant to do some