The Memoirs of Pere Labat, 1693-1705 by Jean Baptiste

Author:Jean Baptiste [Baptiste, Jean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781138011076
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2014-07-17T00:00:00+00:00

Grenada

We dropped anchor at Grenada at six o'clock in the evening on Sunday 18th in the Bassin or Fond de Lacul, under the fort. As soon as I landed I went to call on the Governor, le sieur de Bellair, Capitaine de Vaisseau. The Governor was an adventurer of obscure family born at Blaye, but more lively and enterprising than are, as a rule, the folks de la Garonne. He had entered the service of the Prince of Orange, how I do not know, and had so gained the favour of this Prince, that he had been made Commandant of Bergenopsoom. It appears that de Bellair then entered into negotiations with some of our generals or ministers, and this in the end compelled him to flee, and escape to France, where he was given the rank of Capitaine de Vaisseau at one bound. He served in this capacity in the Armee Navale which captured the fleet of Smyrna in June 1693. On one occasion he was in the vanguard commanded by the sieur de Gabaret, and perceiving that his chief was steering a course that increased the distance between themselves and the enemy, he bore down on them alone and captured a vessel of forty cannons with a very rich cargo. He did not forget to take his share of the booty, but on the other hand he did not wait to share it with de Gabaret.

It is true that his officers got their share and that his crew had every reason to be pleased with him, but the Court was not pleased, and while approving his capture of the ship, did not approve of the pillage. In consequence of this, he was interdicted and remained interdicted for a year. In the end he was reinstated, and when he asked for the Governorship of Grenada which was vacant at the time, it was given to him. He received me well and asked me many questions as to the reason of my visit. I told him very little, and then only as much as I considered necessary. After an interview of nearly an hour, he obliged me to accept the hospitality of his house. After this I visited the Capuchin priest who serves this parish. I found him alone and he was most kind to me, but at the same time most inquisitive about my business in the island. He told me he believed that I had orders from the Court to resume possession of our old spiritual Jurisdiction, and that if this were so it would give him great pleasure. I did not know if he meant what he said, or if he wished to obtain my plans by affecting to take me into his confidence, so I paid him in the same coin, and after many compliments I went away leaving him no wiser than when I came. After saying Mass I returned to the Governor, and spent the rest of the day talking with him and walking about the neighbourhood of the fort.

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