Of Captain Mission

Of Captain Mission is by Daniel Defoe and comes from The History Of The Pyrates, Vol. II. An introduction says that Bellamy asks the crew of the captured ship to abandon the slavery of working for low wages under severe captains for the complete economic and political equality of life on a pirate ship. The same introduction says government on Captain Misson’s ship, the Victoire, and in the colony of Libertalia is partially an idealization of the pirate’s creed.

The Victoire cruises off Carthagene and, meeting with nothing in the seas, makes for Porto Bello, meeting two Dutch Traders on the way, one with 20 and the other 24 Guns; Misson engages them, and they defend themselves with a great deal of resolution and gallantry. A passage describes a bay to the northward of Diego Suares, ten leagues up which a large and safe harbour with plenty of fresh water is found, and a speaker tells his men this is an excellent place for an asylum.