He Afterwards Drew Up A Set Of Regulations, Which Were To Be
The Laws Of His New Principality, Taking To Himself The Style And
Title Of Captain-General, And Obliging His Party To Sign An Act, Or
Instrument, By Which They Acknowledged Him As Such.
These points
once settled, he resolved to carry on the war.
He first of all
embarked on board two shallops twenty-two men, well armed, with
orders to destroy Mr. Weybhays and his company; and on their
miscarrying, he undertook a like expedition with thirty-seven men,
in which, however, he had no better success; for Mr. Weybhays, with
his people, though armed only with staves with nails drove into
their heads, advanced even into the water to meet them, and after a
brisk engagement compelled these murderers to retire.
Cornelis then thought fit to enter into a negotiation, which was
managed by the chaplain, who remained with Mr. Weybhays, and after
several comings and goings from one party to the other, a treaty was
concluded upon the following terms--viz., That Mr. Weybhays and his
company should for the future remain undisturbed, provided they
delivered up a little boat, in which one of the sailors had made his
escape from the island in which Cornelis was with his gang, in order
to take shelter on that where Weybhays was with his company. It was
also agreed that the latter should have a part of the stuffs and
silks given them for clothes, of which they stood in great want.
But, while this affair was in agitation, Cornelis took the
opportunity of the correspondence between them being restored, to
write letters to some French soldiers that were in Weybhays's
company, promising them six thousand livres apiece if they would
comply with his demands, not doubting but by this artifice he should
be able to accomplish his end.
His letters, however, had no effect; on the contrary, the soldiers
to whom they were directed carried them immediately to Mr. Weybhays.
Cornelis, not knowing that this piece of treachery was discovered,
went over the next morning, with three or four of his people, to
carry to Mr. Weybhays the clothes that had been promised him. As
soon as they landed, Weybhays attacked them, killed two or three,
and made Cornelis himself prisoner. One Wonterloss, who was the
only man that made his escape, went immediately back to the
conspirators, put himself at their head, and came the next day to
attack Weybhays, but met with the same fate as before--that is to
say, he and the villains that were with him were soundly beat.
Things were in this situation when Captain Pelsart arrived in the
Sardam frigate. He sailed up to the wreck, and saw with great joy a
cloud of smoke ascending from one of the islands, by which he knew
that all his people were not dead. He came immediately to an
anchor, and having ordered some wine and provisions to be put into
the skiff, resolved to go in person with these refreshments to one
of these islands.
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