A COPY OF Monsieur Peire's Certificate, Sent by him To Captain Desborow;
CONCERNING Monsieur PONTI's Five Ships appearing off St. John's Port in Newfoundland, Translated into English from the Original, which is ready to be produced.
I Under-written, heretofore part Owner of the Ship called the Warlike, Monsieur John la Grange of Rochel, Commander, do Certify to whom it may belong, That on the 15th day of May last we sailed from the Road of Rochel, under the Convoy of the Squadron Commanded by Monsieur de Nesmond, Lieutenant General of the Marines in France, and along with the Canada Fleet, for which place the foresaid Ship the Warlike was Bound: and having accompanied the aforesaid Squadron Forty five Days, we were afterwards parted from it by Fogs and contrary Winds, which when I found, I ordered Captain La Grange to Steer his Course towards Placentia in Newfoundland, at which place Monsieur Nesmond had appointed us to Randezvouze, in Case we should be separated from one another. And it happened, that on the 15th of July, of the same Year, while we were upon the great Bank, we met by break of Day the English Squadron, Commanded by Captain Norris, being Ten Men of War in Number (including the Mary-Galley) and two Fireships, the which pursued us for some time, and at last constrained us to strike our Sails. After which the said Captain Norris, hearing that Monsieur de Nesmond was at Sea, he thought fit to retire to St. John's Harbour, where Colonel Gibson was with part of his Regiment, to secure the said Harbour against the Attacks of the French.
I do moreover declare, That about Eight or Ten Days after the French Squadron Commanded by Monsieur de Ponti, coming from Carthagina, who wanted to take in Fresh Water, according to the Account given us by Mons. Povilharmout, Ensign of a Man of War, and other Persons who were with him, sent by Monsieur Ponti in a Shallop, against the Shallop belonging to the Portland, who had been sent to discover the said Squadron, and the abovesaid Monsieur Povilharmout meeting with a Storm, and not being able to overtake any of the Ships of his own Squadron, was forced to Surrender himself a Prisoner of War in the Hands of the English, on the aforesaid Coast of Newfoundland, where having been brought on Board the Monk, Captain Norris Comodore; and being ask'd what he knew, the Comodore ordered the Captain of the Mary-Galley, to go out of St. John's Haven, in order to view the said Monsieur de Ponti's Squadron, which after some time he met Sailing for France; Monsieur Ponti seeing himself Discovered, and knowing that there was a Fleet of English Men of War, put out his Lights, for Reasons unknown to me, which the Captain of the Mary-Galley acquainted Captain Norris with, who could have easily gone out, and taken advantage of Monsieur Ponti's Weakness, who was not able to Fight; the [Page 2] Remainder of his Men being almost all Sick, and the other lost in the Expedition against Carthagina.
And (as I was informed on board the Guarnzey, Captain Rophey Commander, where I was a Prisoner with many other French) Captain Norris Commanded, that some should go a Cruizing on the Great Bank, in order to take some Prizes, if possible. The Captain of the Mary Galley went thither, where he met Monsieur Nesmond's Squadron, which was a Cruizing in those Parts; and having avoided it, he came and made his Report to Captain Norris, at the aforesaid St. Johns, bringing back with him a small Prize, which he took from the French.
I farther declare, that after the Arrival of the Mary Galley, the said Captain Norris, in order to excuse himself of the Fault he had committed in not pursuing the said Monsieur Ponti, and lay it on the Captain of the Mary Galley, pretending he had not given him all the necessary Informations, he called his Council of War together, and broke the said Captain of the Mary Galley, and put Captain Clesby in his room, in Testimony whereof, I have set my Name to this Present, being a faithful and true Account.
IT is humbly hoped, That this Certificate will convince all Persons, that there was no reasonable Ground for Captain Norris to suppose that Monsieur Nesmond intended to go to St. John's Port, unless he had Intelligence that the Squadron Commanded by Captain Norris, was to be there.
For it appeared by the Intelligence from Prisoners, who were part of Monsieur Nesmond's Squadron, that he was to convoy the Ships bound for Canada and Placentia, to strengthen and supply those Places with what was wanting: and the Prisoners did not so much as mention, that Monsieur Nesmond intended for St. Johns, and until his Arrival at Placentia, he could not know that St. John's Port was again quitted by the French, since that was not done until he was actually sailed from France; nor did we know it, until our Arrival there.
And there was no imaginable Ground to suppose that the French had Notice of our Design for St. Johns: For all the Orders given by Captain Norris to Captain Desborow, and others, did only mention a Foreign Voyage, and not whither we were bound; nor did we know till after we were at Sea.
But if Monsieur Nesmond had known of our being at St. John's, it is highly improbable that he should separate his Squadron, and send only Five of his Ships to lye Eight Days before St. John's, and in Consumption Bay; which, in all probability, would have been taken or destroyed, before the rest could have come to their Relief, if all our Ships had been in Condition, and we had had Resolution to have attackt them.
Therefore it is humbly submitted, whether Monsieur Nesmond's being Bound for Placentia, (which is about Fifty Leagues from St. John's) could be a sufficient Reason to dis-believe and invalidate all the plain Advices and Evidences that the Five Ships seen off St. John's, were part of Monsieur Ponti's Squadron.
Quere, Whether at any time it has been known, When a Flag-Officer hath appear'd forward to fight an Enemy, his Captains have refus'd?