make a Fortune, generally Countenance all Proceedings that bring in Profit: They grant Commiſſions to great Numbers of Veſſels of War, on Pretence of preventing an interloping Trade, with Orders to ſeize all Ships or Veſſels whatſoever, within five Leagues of their Coaſts, which our Engliſh Ships cannot well avoid coming, in their Voyage to Jamaica. But if the Spaniſh Captains chance to exceed this Commiſſion, and rob and plunder at Diſcretion, the Sufferers are allowed to complain, and exhibit a Proceſs in their Court, and after great Expence of Suit, Delay of Time, and other Inconveniencies, obtain a Decree in their Favour, but then when the Ship and Cargo comes to be claim’d, with Coſts of Suit, they find, to their Sorrow, that it has been previouſly condemn’d, and the Plunder divided among the Crew; the Commander that made the Capture, who alone is reſponſible, is found to be a poor raskally Fellow, not worth a Groat, and, no doubt, is plac’d in that Station for the like Purpoſes.
The frequent Loſſes ſuſtain’d by our Merchants abroad, by theſe Pyrates, was Provocation enough to attempt ſomething by way of Repriſal; and a fair Opportunity offering it ſelf in the Year 1716, the Traders of the West-Indies, took Care not to ſlip it over, but made the beſt Uſe of it their Circumſtances would permit.
It was about two Years before, that the Spaniſh Galleons, or Plate Fleet, had been caſt away in the Gulf or Florida; and ſeveral Veſſels from the Havana, were at work, with diving Engines, to fiſh up the Silver that was on board the Galleons.
The Spaniards had recovered ſome Millions of Pieces of Eight, and had carried it all to the Havana; but they had at preſent about 350000 Pieces of Eight in Silver, then upon the Spot, and were
