THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE DORRILL AND THE MOCA

[Salty Dog]

THESE truly representeth a scheem of what misfortune has befell us as we
were going through the streights of Malacca, in the persuance to our pretended
voyage, vizt., Wednesday the 7th July, 5 o'clock morning we espied a ship to
windward; as soon as was well light perceived her to bare down upon us. Wee
thought at first she had been a Dutchman bound for Atcheen or Bengall, when
perceived she had no Gallerys, did then suppose her to be what after, to our
dreadful sorrow, found her. Wee gott our ship in the best posture of defence that
suddain emergent necessity would permitt. Wee kept good looking out,
expecting to see an Island called Pullo Verello [Pulo Barahla], but as then saw it
not.

About 8 of the clock the ship came up fairely within shott. Saw in room of our
Gallerys there was large sally ports, in each of which was a large gunn, seemed
to be brass. Her tafferill was likewise taken downe. Wee having done what
possibly could to prepare ourselves, fearing might be suddenly sett on, ordered
our people to their respective stations for action. Wee now hoisted our colours.
The Captain commanded to naile our Ensigne to the staff in sight of the enimie,
which was immediately done. As they perceived wee hoisted our colours they
hoisted theirs, with the Union Jack, and let fly a broad red Pendant at their
maintopmast head.

[Salty Dog]

The Pirate being now in little more than half Pistoll shott from us, wee could
discerne abundance of men who went aft to the Quarter Deck, which as wee
suppose was to consult. They stood as we stood, but wee spoke neither to other.
Att noone it fell calme, so that [wee] were affraid should by the sea have been
hove on one another. Att 1 a clock sprang up a gale. The Pirate kept as wee kept.
Att 3 a clock the villain backt her sailes and they went from us. Wee kept close
halled, having a contrary wind for Mallacca. When the Pirate was about 7 miles
distant tackt and stood after us. Att 6 that evening saw the lookt for island, and
the Pirate came up with us on our starboard side within shott. Wee see he kept a
man at each topmast head, looking out till it was darke, then he halled a little
from us, but kept us company all night.

At 8 in the morning he drew near us, but wee had time to mount our other four
guns that were in hold, and now wee were in the best posture of defence could
desire. He drawing near us and seeing that if [wee] would, [wee] could not gett
from him, he far outsailing us by or large [in one direction or another], the
Captain resolved to see what the rogue would doe, soe ordered to hand [furl] all
our small sailes and furled our mainesaile. He, seeing this, did the like, and as
[he] drew near us beat a drum and sounded trumpets, and then hailed us four
times before we answered him.

[Salty Dog]

At last it was thought fitt to know what he would say, soe the Boatswaine spoke
to him as was ordered, which was that wee came from London. Then he
enquired whether peace or war with France. Our answer, there was an universall
peace through Europe, att which they paused and then said, "That's well." He
further enquired if had touched at Attcheen. Wee said a boat came off to us, but
[wee] came not near itt by several leagues. Further he enquired our Captain's
name and whither wee were bound. Wee answered to Mallacca. They too and
[would have] had the Captain gone aboard to drink a glass of wine. Wee said that
would see one another at Mallacca. Then he called to lye by and he would come
aboard us. Our answer was as before, saying it was late. He said, true, it was for
China, and enquired whether should touch at the Water Islands [Pulo Ondan, off
Malacca]. Wee said should. Then said he, So shall wee. After he had asked us all
these questions wee desired to know from whence he was. He said from London,
their Captain name Collyford, the ship named the Resolution, bound for China.
This Collyford had been Gunners Mate at Bombay, and after run away with the
Ketch.

[Salty Dog]

Thus past the 8th July. Friday the 9th do., he being some distance from us, About
½ an hour after 10 came up with us. Then it grew calme. Wee could discerne a
fellow on the Quarter Deck wearing a sword. As he drew near, this Hellish Imp
cried, Strike you doggs, which [wee] perceived was not by a general consent for
he was called away. Our Boatswaine in a fury run upon the poop, unknown to
the Captain, and answered that wee would strike to noe such doggs as he, telling
him the rogue Every and his accomplices were all hanged. The Captain was
angry that he spake without order, then ordered to haile him and askt what was
his reason to dogg us. One stept forward on the forecastle, beckoned with his
hand and said, Gentlemen, wee want not your ship nor men, but money. Wee
told them had none for them but bid them come up alongside and take it as could
gett it. Then a parcell of bloodhound rogues clasht their cutlashes and said they
would have itt or our hearts blood, saying, "What doe you not know us to be the
Moca?" Our answer was Yes, Yes. Thereon they gave a great shout and so they
all went out of sight and wee to our quarters. They were going to hoist colours
but the ensigne halliards broke, which our people perceiving gave a great shout,
so they lett them alone.

[Salty Dog]

As soon as they could bring their chase gunns to bear, fired upon us and soe kept
on our quarter. Our gunns would not bear in a small space, but as soon as did
hap, gave them better than [the pirates] did like. His second shott carried away
our spritt saile yard. About half on hour after or more he came up alongside and
soe wee powered in upon him and continued, some time broadsides and
sometimes three or four gunns as opportunity presented and could bring them to
doe best service. He was going to lay us athwart the hawse, but by God's
providence Captain Hide frustrated his intent by pouring a broadside into him,
which made him give back and goe asterne, where he lay and paused without
fireing, then in a small space fired one gunn. The shott come in at our round
house window without damage to any person, after which he filled and bore
away, and when was about ¼ mile off fired a gunn to leeward, which wee
answered by another to windward. About an hour after he tackt and came up
with us againe. Wee made noe saile, but lay by to receive him, but he kept aloof
off. The distance att most in all our fireing was never more than two ships
length; the time of our engagement was from ½ an hour after 11 till about 3
afternoon.

[Salty Dog]

When [wee] came to see what damage [wee] had sustained, found our Cheife
Mate, Mr. Smith, wounded in the legg, close by the knee, with a splinter or piece
of chaine, which cannot well be told, our Barber had two of his fingers shott off
as was spunging one of our gunns, the Gunner's boy had his legg shott off in the
waste, John Amos, Quartermaster, had his leg shott off [while] at the helme, the
Boatswaine's boy (a lad of 13 years old) was shott in the thigh, which went
through and splintered his bone, the Armorer Jos. Osborne in the round house
wounded by a splinter just in the temple, the Captain's boy on the Quarter Deck a
small shott raised his scull through his cap and was the first person wounded and
att the first onsett. Wm. Reynolds's boy had the brim of his hatt ½ shott off and
his forefinger splintered very sorely. John Blake, turner, the flesh of his legg and
calfe a great part shott away.

[Salty Dog]

Our ships damage is the Mizentopmast shott close by the cap and it was a
miracle stood soe long and did not fall in the rogues sight. Our rigging shott that
had but one running rope left clear, our mainshrouds three on one side, two on
the other cutt in two. Our mainyard ten feet from the mast by a shott cutt 8
inches deep, our foretopmast backstays shott away, a great shott in the
roundhouse, one on the Quarter Deck and two of the roundhouse shott came on
the said deck, severall in the stearidge betwixt decks and in the forecastle, two in
the bread room which caused us to make much water and damaged the greatest
part of our bread. They dismounted one of our gunns in the roundhouse, two in
the stearidge, two in the waste, one in the forecastle, with abundance more
damage which may seem tedious to rehearse.

Their small shott were most Tinn and Tuthenage [tutenaga, spelter]. They fired
pieces of glass-bottles, do. teapots, chains, stones and what not, which were
found on our decks. We could observe abundance of great shott to have passed
through the rogues foresaile, and our hope is have done that to him which [will]
make him shunn having to do with any Europe ship againe. Att night wee
perceived kept close their lights. Wee did the like and lay by. In the morning they
were as far off as [wee] could discerne upon deck. Wee sent up to see how they
stood, which was right with us. In the night wee knotted our rigging and in the
morning made all haist to repare our carriages.

[Salty Dog]

Our men, seeing they stood after us, [wee] could perceive their countinances to
be dejected. Wee cheared them what wee could, and, for their encouragement,
the Captain and wee of our proper money did give them, to every man and boy,
three dollars each, which animated them, and promised to give them as much
more if engaged againe, and that if [wee] took the ship, for every prisoner five
pounds and besides a gratuity from the Gentlemen Employers. Wee read the
King's Proclamation about Every, &c., and the Right Honble. Company's.

About 9 o'clock the 10th July wee perceived the rogue made from us, soe wee
gave the Almighty our most condigne thanks for his mercy that delivered us not
to the worst of our enimies, for truly he [the pirate] was very strong, having at
least an hundred Europeans on board, 34 gunns mounted, besides 10 pattererers
and 2 small mortars in the head; his lower tier, some of them, as wee judged,
sixteen and eighteen pounders. We lay as near our course as could, and next day
saw land on our starboard side which was the Maine [Land]. Kept on our way.

[Salty Dog]

The 12th July dyed the Boatswaine's boy, George Mopp, in the morning. Friday
the 16th do. in the evening dyed the Gunner's boy, Thomas Matthews. Sunday
the 18th at anchor two leagues from the Pillo Sumbelong [Pulo Sembîlan]
Islands dyed the Barber, Andrew Miller. Do. the 31st dyed the Cheife Mate, Mr.
John Smith. The other two are yet in a very deplorable condition and wee are
ashore here to refresh them.... The Chinese further report ... the Mocco was at the
Maldives and creaned [careened]; there they gave an end to the life of their
commanding rogue Stout, who they murdered for attempting to run away.