________________
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ JANUARY, 1920
The pirates hoisted a broad red pendant, i.e., a Commodore's flag, the day before the engagement. This must not be confused with the bloody flag, for it signified merely that the Captain of the Mocha claimed superiority to the Captain of the Dorrill, either as his senior or as commanding & ship-of-war, and was therefore a ruse to get the Captain of the Dorrill to go on board him. The use of pieces of glass, broken teapots, chains, stones, etc. by the pirates to load their guns was probably due to want of shot. They suffered very slightly in the fight, but were frightened of losing a mast and being disabled, and so drew off.
THREE ACCOUNTS OF THE TIGHT BETWEEN THE SHIP DORRILL, CAPTAIN SAMUEL HYDE, AND THE PIRATE SHIP MOCHA, CAPTAIN ROBERT COLLIYORD, ON THE 9TH JULY 1697,
IN THE STRAITS OY MALACCA.
1
A narrative about the Mocha Frigatt, written by William Willock,11 a prisoner aboard them
eleven months. " About the latter end of June (July) they [the pirates) mett with an Europe ship near to Pulio Verero.7 They came up with her and hailed her, the ship's name I do not remember. They said her Commander was Captain Hide newly come from Europe. Hell was never in greater confusion than was then aboard, some for hoysing French colours, some for fighting under no colours, some for not fighting att all, some for running him aboard without fireing, a gunn. The Captain laid down his charge because of the confusion, then about ship they must goe to chuse another Captain. All this while they were within speech of one another, soe that the other ship might hear what they said ; but about they went and the English ship made the best of her way from them, but at length they concluded to fight and the Captain resumed his place againe. Then about they went after her againe.
The day before they had layd close by one another within gunn shott, so they saw what they were and provided accordingly. In the morning about 9 o'clock they came up with her againe. They came close up to her on her weather quarter so that they could call to them and asked them what they would have. They answered Money they wanted and Money they would have. Its well, said they, for you may come and take it. So they gave a cheer and went all hands, I suppose, to their quarters. The Pirate first fired his two forechase gunns into her, but before they had fired another they had received both his broadsides, for he took care to work his ship to the best advantage, and had then, I think, about 30 guns mounted and they were as good as the Pirate's gunns. They had not passed above three or four broadsides, I could see the pirates disheartened. Said they, We shall gett nothinge here but broaken bognes, and if we lose a mast where shall we gett others. They had then received a shott in their foremast, a six-pounder, which had gone right through the heart of it. Says the Captain, We have enough of it to fetoh to windward of him. Lett us goe about ship for he lyes by for us, and soe he did. Says one, You may put her about yourself and you will, for I'll fight no more. Nor I, says another, Nor I, Nor I, was the
11 Master of the Satisfaction, taken by two pirate ships (one under English and the other under apparently Muhammadan colours) off Ceylon, January, 1697, and released 22nd December, 1697.
79 Pulo Barahla, an island off the N.E. coast of Sumatra, known as Pulo Verera in the 17th century. -ED.
