Deposition: *Le Grand Bretagne de Nantes* [125 tons]
Of the said day, May 28, 1718
(Source: Rapports des capitaines à l'Amirauté de Nantes, Les Archives départementales de Loire Atlantique, B4578, 62)
Appeared Maurice Libaudiere, Master and Commander of the ship named *Le Grand Bretagne de Nantes*, of a burthen of 125 tons or thereabouts, armed with eight cannons and manned by a crew of 33 men, fitted out by Sieur Du Mottay, owner of the said ship. The said Captain, having taken the oath with uplifted hand, promised and swore to tell the truth, and did state and declare to us that his said vessel, having been loaded with lawful merchandise and being furnished with all the necessary clearances for the voyage to Saint-Domingue, departed from the lower reaches of this river on July 27, 1717—sailing with the morning tide—to undertake his said voyage. On the following September 1st, he encountered a pirate ship named *La Louise*—armed with 22 pieces of cannon and a crew of 200 men (Frenchmen)—at a location near the Tropic [of Cancer? Presumably north of the Leewards and East of the Bahamas], to the northeast.
The said pirate fired two cannon shots at the deponent in order to force him to strike his colors and surrender, having first hoisted the black flag. The deponent returned fire with two cannon shots of his own; however, seeing the superior strength of the said pirate vessel, he was compelled to surrender. They plundered the greater part of his cargo—such as wines, brandy, linens, flour, and other merchandise—and likewise seized the greater part of his rigging and tackle, as is more fully substantiated by the official report drawn up at the Admiralty of Cap-Français, dated September 30, 1717, which he has presented and deposited here, signed by him in the margin, to be consulted should the need arise. Thereafter, he proceeded to the said Cap-Français with the remainder of his crew and merchandise, arriving on September 29th; at that location, he traded the remainder of his cargo and reloaded for the return voyage, partly as freight and partly on his own account. ...comprising, belonging to this bourgeois, a total of 520 casks—specifically 518 casks of raw sugar and two barrels of indigo. Of this quantity of sugar, 198 casks originate from the slave trade conducted by the ship *L'Emanuel Fortune*—referring, naturally, to its most recent voyage to the Guinea Coast. He declares that he was compelled to engage, at the aforementioned Cap, four sailors and one surgeon to replace an equal number of men whom the said pirates had forcibly seized and abducted from him—a fact detailed in the official report mentioned above. He further declares that the following men died at the Cap: Jacques Guerlared, a cabin boy from Paimbœuf, in October 1717; Louis Cernanal, a turner from Brest, in the same month; and Étienne Bonsergent, a sailor from St. Nicholas, in the same month. Regarding these men, he arranged for their burial and sold their personal effects—with the exception of one chest containing the deceased's natural heirs' clothing—upon his return to Paimbœuf. He notes that the ship's supply of buccaneer guns had been seized by the pirates, as attested by the certificate issued by Mr. Merchand, Keeper of the King's Magazine, dated March 22nd last. Following this, he departed from the said Cap on April 1st last to proceed to his intended destination; during this voyage, he endured severe weather, leading him to fear that his cargo may have sustained damage—for which reason he hereby formally lodges his protests and requests, as is customary. He arrived at Paimbœuf yesterday, where he remained to rest; this constitutes his declaration, which, having been read back to him, he swore to be true and accurate. In witness whereof, he has signed below.
M. Libaudiener
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