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canvas to build a smaller craft but most of the bullion was lost. Acci-
dent or another example of Shelvocke's greed and trickery? Anchor-
ing the Speedwell in that particular spot was an uncharacteristic ex-
ample of poor seamanship and an action taken against the advice of
the officers. The loss of the ship had two immediate results: it de-
prived the owners of any share in the profits of the voyage and it en-
abled Shelvocke to put the expedition on a completely new footing.
His crew now accepted the 'Jamaica discipline', that is they formed
themselves into a sort of piratical co-operative in which all major
decisions were, theoretically, taken by democratic vote. At a stroke,
Shelvocke had transformed the entire operation into one in which
he alone had any authority and could make the rules. It is difficult to
avoid the suspicion that he had also secretly removed all easily-port-
able treasure from the Speedwell before her wreck.
Off Peru in November the brigands made good their loss by cap-
turing a 200-ton merchantman, the Jesu Maria, and renamed her the
Happy Return. They sailed on to the Isle of Coiba, off Panama, to lie
low. And there Shelvocke had a nasty shock. Who should be already
anchored there but John Clipperton in the Success. Inevitably, there
was a scene. Clipperton upbraided his disobedient subordinate and
demanded the immediate handover of the proceeds of his activit-
ies which were the property of the expedition's backers. Shelvocke
maintained that, since the loss of the Speedwell, the owners had no
claim upon him or his men. His adversary was in no position to press
the point and the two once more - and finally - parted company.
Higher up the coast Shelvocke discovered a superior vessel, the
Sacra Familia and boarded her. The Spanish captain drew his atten-
tion to the fact that peace had recently been signed between their re-
spective countries. Such technicalities were of little consequence to
Shelvocke. He transferred his crew and stores to the new prize and
sailed on. In May 1721 he encountered his best victim of the entire
 
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