Jelles de Lecat

He served with Henry Morgan and was often called "Yellahs," "Yallahs,"[1] or “Captain Yellows.”[2] Notorious French pirate L'Olonnais put into Jamaica in 1668 to sell one of his prize ships, an 80-ton 12-gun Spanish brigantine.

Impatient for plunder, Lecat loaded his ship with logwood, while Brasiliano and Bradley blockaded the port of Campeche.

[4] Henry Morgan assembled a fleet to sack Panama in 1670, including Brasiliano, Reyning, Bradley, and Lecat.

After raiding Cuba they captured a Spanish guarda costa vessel, which Lecat kept for himself, giving the Seviliaen to Reyning.

[3] Sailing back to Campeche, they marooned the English members of their crew and took a commission from the Spanish,[3] who may have paid them a huge sum to switch sides, possibly purchasing one of their old ships as well.

[2] In 1670, Jamaican Governor Modyford sent a buccaneer named Morris (Morrice) to arrest Lecat, who was vulnerable while careening his ship.

Finally in 1674 the King issued a pardon specifically for Lecat and an Irish pirate named Philip Fitzgerald, forbidding them from serving other nations, offering them forgiveness if they surrendered, and authorizing the Jamaican Governor to hunt them down if not: “and in regard Captains Yellows and Fitzgerald, two of his Majesty's subjects, appeared to be the chief instruments of said depredations, That a Proclamation be issued for recalling his Majesty's subjects from the service of any foreign Prince between the tropics in America, with promise of pardon if they render themselves within a convenient time; and that the Governor of Jamaica receive speedy order for securing both said persons if found so offending after the time limited within his Government, and cause them to be sent prisoners to England.”[6] Little is known of Lecat's further activities.