Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin (also spelledEsquemeling,Exquemeling, orOexmelin) (c. 1645–1707) was a French, Dutch, or Flemish writer best known as the author of one of the most important sourcebooks of 17th-centurypiracy, first published in Dutch asDe Americaensche Zee-Roovers, inAmsterdam, by Jan ten Hoorn, in 1678.
Born about 1645, it is likely that Exquemelin was a native ofHonfleur, France, who on his return frombuccaneering settled inHolland, possibly because he was aHuguenot. In 1666 he was engaged by theFrench West India Company and went toTortuga, where he worked as an indentured servant for three years. There he enlisted with thebuccaneers, in particular with the band ofHenry Morgan, whose confidante he was, probably as abarber-surgeon, and remained with them until 1674. Shortly afterwards he returned to Europe and settled in Amsterdam where he qualified professionally as a surgeon, his name appearing on the 1679 register of the Dutch Surgeons' Guild. However, he was later once again in theCaribbean as his name appears on themuster-roll as asurgeon in theattack on Cartagena in 1697.[1]
The bibliographic legacy of Exquemelin'sHistory of the Buccaneers of America is complex. It was first published in Dutch (1678), then translated into German (1679), Spanish (1681) and English (1684).[2] The German translation is a faithful translation of the original Dutch. The Spanish translation adds new material quite freely and without acknowledgment, and mistranslates the Dutch frequently, while the English translation appears to be as much a translation of the Spanish edition, including most of its deviations from the Dutch original. The French translation of 1686 is substantially a new work with many additions, including new pirate biographies (Daniel Montbars andAlexandre Bras-de-Fer) and complete rearrangements in some sections incorporating new material of unknown source.[3] Subsequent editions and translations added additional new material and whole biographies.
Following publication of the English translation in 1684,Henry Morgan took steps to discredit the book and successfully brought a libel suit against the book's publishers William Crooke and Thomas Malthus. Morgan particularly objected to the description of the capture of the third castle atPortobello in 1668 where the book said he had ordered the construction of ladders wide enough for three men to climb abreast; when they were completed he "commanded all the religious men and women whom he had taken prisoners to fix them against the walls of the castle ... these were forced, at the head of the companies to raise and apply them to the walls ... Thus many of the religious men and nuns were killed".[4] In Morgan'saffidavit he stated that he had "against evil deeds, piracies and robberies the greatest abhorrence and distrust", and that "for the kind of men called buccaneers", he "always had and still has hatred". The court found in his favour and the book was retracted; damages of £200 were paid to him.[5] The passage about the use of nuns and monks as ahuman shield was retracted from subsequent publications in England.[6]
For a comparison of the 1678 Dutch edition and the 1686 French translation, see the 1974 translation and interpretation by the Danish author and historian Erik Kjærsgaard.[7] For a contemporary reprinting, see Esquemeling, Alexander O.,The Buccaneers of America. A true account of the most remarkable assaults committed of late years upon the coasts ofWest Indies by the Buccaneers ofJamaica andTortuga (both English and French), containing alsoBasil Ringrose’s account of the dangerous voyage and bold assaults of CaptainBartholomew Sharp and others.[8]Peter Benchley, in his bookThe Island, referred to Exquemelin at length, having used his work in his research.
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