The Boarding of the Spanish Merchant Ship was an engagement early in the Pirate-Maroon War immediately following the British Conquest of Nassau.
History[]
Background[]
After the British forces under Governor Woodes Rogers successfully conquered Nassau, the Pirate Fleet under the command of Edward Teach and Charles Vane sailed north to Ocracoke Island, Teach's old base back during his original career as a pirate.
As they sail north, Reuben spots a ship flying Spanish colors nearby, and Teach orders the fleet to pursue, breaking the unspoken rule of the Pirate Republic to avoid Spanish ships for fear of reprisals against Nassau.
The Battle[]
The fleet catches up to the Spanish vessel and they surround it, with Teach leading the men from his ship in boarding. The Spanish refuse to surrender, and a fierce fight ensues. Teach kills many Spaniards with his sword and pistols. Meanwhile, Vane engages in a duel with a Spaniard. The two are evenly matched, but Vane is able to find an opening and run the Spaniard through.
While Teach, Reuben and Ellers sweep the lower level, Vane prepares to finish the dying Spaniard off. However, the Spaniard begs for one last drink, which Vane gives him. The two then discuss their fight, and the Spaniard tells Vane that he lags on the parry. As the two continue talking, the Spaniard explains that they could not surrender, for they would be blacklisted from working again, and they were carrying something of high importance.
Belowdecks, Teach and his men find a locked cabin door. Using a battering ram, they break the door down and find the Spanish Intelligence Officer burning documents. The Officer says "long live the King" in Spanish before shooting himself. Teach then fetches Vane and they sift through the documents together. They find reports from the Bahamas, which include the fact that if Rogers fails to return the entirety of the Urca gold, including the two caches of gems, the Spanish will burn Nassau to the ground.
Aftermath[]
While none of them pay any attention to intelligence they found at first, after the Duel at Ocracoke, Vane joins Flint in his effort to retake Nassau from the British. Vane informs him and the Maroon Queen of the Spanish intelligence, and they return to New Providence to locate Anne Bonny and plot the Rescue of Jack Rackham.