18 THE HISTORY OF

he would not suffer them for the future so much as to talk
together, but sent an officer to treat with about their flaves.

Before he failed away, they confessed all: so that he left
them as he found them, rogues from the very beginning, on-
ly with fewer flaves than they had. One of these great men,
I remember, told me, he had been a water man, upon the
river Thames, in England, where having killed a man, he
made the beft of his way for the West Indies and was one
of them that run away with the floop from thence. And I
further observed, That there was not one among them all
that could read or write; but these wretches being molt of
them now dead or deftroyed, I do not think it worth my
while to give the reader any more trouble about them.

Capt.

THE PIRATES.

Capt. MARTEL and his Crew.

THE necessity there is of giving out a multitude of com-
missions to privateers in the West Indies, in time of war,
to preferve trade is generally believed to be the caufe of the
number of pirates in the time of peace; for the men who
ship themfelves on board privateers, are generally desperate
and bold, capable of any undertaking wherein there is but
a bare probability of profit and gain to fupport their extra-
vagancies. Thefe men not finding the fame profit among
merchantmen, as they ufually meet with in privateers, when
the wars are at an end, and all their money fpent, ufually
take to piracy, which I think is the beft reafon that can be
given, why we have more pirates now then formerly; for no
man ever lived under a better government than the prefent,
and the leamen were never so well paid as now; and there-
fore

THE HISTORY OF

20

fore whatever some pretend. I am sure disaffection can be
no cause, but purely fool-hardiness, and a vicious course of
life.

Captain Martel set out with a pirate floop, in Sept. 1710,
with 80 men, cruising about Jamaica, where he took a galley
and plundered her of above 1000l. From thence he went to
the port of Davena, off which he took a galley, mounting 24
guns, putting some of the men afire, and keeping the
others with the ship to encreafe his company. This ship he
entered on with 100 men, and left 30 hands in the floop, and
then failed to the leeward islands, where he gave chase to the
Dolphin, a ship of 20 guns, bound for Newfoundland, and
took her. In December following, he took another ship,
called the Kent, coming from Jamaica, which, after he had
plundered of her provisions, he let her go. Afterwards he
met with a ship belonging to Barbadoes, which he also rob-
bed of her provision, and some men, and then let her go. He
next met with the Greyhound galley, of London, coming
from Guiney to Jamaica, from which he took all her gold
duff, elephant's teeth, and 40 slaves, leaving her to proceed
on her voyage.

Thus this successful villain went on for a long time, robbing all he met with of something or another; and being overloaded with riches and provisions, he judged it high time to get into harbour, as well to refit, as to get some refreshment, and, if possible, dispense of some of their booty. Whereupon he resolved to make the beft of his way to Santa Cruz, where he thought he might lie snug till he got ready for further business: having with him a ship of 24 guns, a floop of 8, another ship of 10 guns, a floop of 4, and three prizes. With this fleet he got into a small harbour on the N. W. part of the island, where they had not above 13 or 14 feet water, with rocks and fands, which they imagined would secure them from wind and sea, as well as from any confiderable force that should come against them. But their councils were soon defeated; for although they took all the care imaginable, and had fortified themselves in an almost impregnable manner, making a battery of 6 guns upon the island, and another battery on the north point of the road and warped in one of the floops with 10 guns, at the mouth of the channel, yet all these precautions proved fruitless, for they had no sooner began to unrig and unload their ships, in order to clean them, than they were surprized in the following manner.

General Hamilton, governor of the Leeward Islands, sent an express to Barbadoes to captain Hume, commander of the Scarborough man of war, of 30 guns, and 140 men, to inform

THE PIRATES.

21

inform him that two pirate floops had plundered several ships
near Antigua. Upon which news, although there was a
fickleness in his ship, he having buried above 20 men, and
having above 40 lick at the time, whom he fet afire and
left behind him, yet he resolved to go in pursuit of them, and
to call at the other islands for men to supply their places.
He took 13 men from St. Christopher's, and as many from
Nevis, with whom he failed to the island of Anguilla, where
he learned that two floops had been at Spanish Town, one
of the Virgin Islands; but when he came there he could hear
no news of them, only that they had been there about a
month before.

Upon this the captain designed to go back the next day to
his station at Barbadoes; but that night a boat anchored
there from Santa Cruz, who informed him that he saw a
pirate of 24 guns, with 5 or 6 other vessels, going into the
N. W. part of the island. The Scarborough weighed im-
mediately, and next day came in fight of the rovers, but the
pilot refused to venture in with the ship, so that she was o-
bliged to come to an anchor near the channel, at whom the
pirates fired red hot bullets, which the returned on their ships
and batteries. The next night capt. Hume weighed anchor,
fearing he might fall on the reef, and so flocked off and on for
a day or two, to block them up, and then he ftood out to
sea; which the pirates seeing, thought to warp out, and flip
away from the island, but they ran aground; and seeing the
Scarborough stand in again they quitted the ship and fet her
on fire, burning 20 negroes in her. Nineteen pirates made
their escape in a small floop, but the captain and the rest,
with twenty negroes took to the woods, where in all
probability they were starved, for they were never heard
of after.

EDWARD

THE HISTORY OF

EDWARD TEACH, alias BLACKBEARD.

EDWARD TEACH was a Briftol man, and had served many years in the late wars in a privateer fitted out from Jamaica, in which he had often distinguished himself for his boldness. He was never thought fit to be entruited with any command, till he went a pirating in the year 1716, when captain Benjamin Hornigold put him into a prize ship, with whom he kept company till Hornigold surrendered.

In 1717, Teach and Hornigold failed from Providence for America, where in their way they took a vessel with above 100 barrels of flour, as also a ship from Bermudas, and a ship bound to Carolina, from which they got good plunder. After cleaning at Virginia, they returned to the West Indies, and made prize of a French Guineyman, bound to Martinico, which Teach was made captain of; but Hornigold, with his ship, returned to Providence, and surrendered to mercy.

Aboard

THE PIRATES.

Aboard the French Guineyship Teach mounted 46 guns, and called her Queen Anne's Revenge. Not long after he fell in with the Scarborough man of war, who, after a long fight, finding he could do no good with Teach, left him, and returned to Barbadoes, and Teach failed to Spanish America. In his way he met with major Bonnet, a gentleman formerly of good estate in Barbadoes in a small loop, with which he had turned pirate; but Teach finding Bonnet knew nothing of the matter, took him into his own ship, and made one Richards captain in his room, telling the major, that as he had not been ufed to the fatigues of the sea, he had better decline it and take his pleasure aboard his ship. At Turnuflit they took in fresh water, but seeing a ship coming in, they ran out to meet her, who struck her sail, upon fight of the black flag, to Teach, who took the captain and his men aboard, and put Israel's Hands to command the ship. From thence they failed to the bay, where they found a ship and four ships. Teach hoisted his black colours, at the fight of which the captain and his men left the ship, and ran into the woods. Teach's quarter mafter and some of his men took possession of her, and Richards secured the ships: one of which they burnt, because she belonged to Boton, where some of his men had been hanged; but the others, they let go, after plundering them.

From hence they failed to the Grand Canaries; then to the Bahama Wrecks; and then to Carolina: where they took a brigantine and two floaps, lying off the bar of Charles Town; as also a ship bound for London, with some passengers on board. The next day they took another vessel coming out, and two pinks going in, and a brigantine with negroes, in the face of the town, which put the inhabitants into a fad fright, being in no condition to help themselves.

Teach, alias Blackbeard, sent Richards along with Mr. Mark, one of the prisoners, to demand a cheft of medicines of the governor, several of his men being sick on board; threatening, otherwife, to burn the ships, and defoyl all the prisoners, among whom was one Mr. Samuel Wrag, one of the council. Although this went very much against the inhabitants, yet they were forced to comply with it, to fave the lives of the many fouls he had in his craft. To fending him a cheft worth three or four hundred pounds, Richard went safe back to the ships with his booty; which as Blackbeard (for to I will call him for the future) had received, he let the ship and prisoners go, having first taken fifteen hundred pounds sterling, and some provisions out of her.

From thence they failed to North Carolina, where he had thoughts of breaking up the company, an securing the moiety

THE HISTORY OF

24

ney and the best effects for himself and friends. Accordingly he run aground; and, as it had been by accident, calls hands to his assistance, where he run the floop afshore, near the other, and so they were both loft. This done, Blackbeard goes into the Revenge, and maroons 17 men upon a deft inland, where they must have inevitably perished, if Bonnet had not after taken them up.

Blackbeard went straight to the governor of North Carolina, with twenty of his men, and pleaded his majesty's pardon, and received certificates thereupon. He went to his floop, which lay at Okerencock inlet, and set out to sea upon another expedition, steering his ship towards Bermudas. Meeting with one or two English vessels, he robbed them only of provisions for his present occasions; but meeting with a French ship loaded with sugar and cocoa, he brought her home with her cargo, to North Carolina, where the governor and the pirates shared the booty. He had no sooner arrived there, but he, and four of his men, made affidavit, that they found the French ship at sea, without ever a man on board: upon which she was condemned. The governor had sixty hogheads of sugar for his dividend, his secretary twenty, and the rest was shared among the other pirates. And for fear the ship should be discovered by fome that might come into the river, Blackbeard, under pretence that she was leaky and would sink, obtained an order from the governor, to bring her into the river, and burn her: which they did, and funk her bottom.

The floops trading in the river, being so often pillaged by Blackbeard, consulted, with traders what courfe to take; knowing it was in vain to apply to the governor, therefore they sent a deputation to the governor of Virginia, to folicit a force from the men of war to deftroy this pirate. Accordingly the governor confulted with the captains of the Peal and Lime men of war, which lay in James's river. Whereupon it was agreed that the governor should have a couple of small floops, and they should be manned out of the men of war, the command of which was given to Mr. Robert Maynard, firſt lieutenant of the Pearl. But, before they failed, it was agreed in council, to offer a reward of one hundred pounds for any one who should take Edward Teach, commonly called Blackbeard; for every lieutenant, after, quarter-after, boatswain, or carpenter, twenty pounds; for every man taken on board each floop, ten pounds.

Upon this the lieutenant failed from James's river in Virginia, the 17th of November, 1718; and the aft, in the even-

THE PIRATES

25

evening, came to Okerencock inlet, where he had fight of the pirate. And although this expedition was made with all the fecreſy imaginable, yet Blackbeard had notice of it from the governor and his secretary; but having heard ſeveral falſe reports before, he gave the leſs credit to this, till he saw the floops, and then he put himself in a poſture of defence with his twenty five men.

Lieutenant Maynard came to anchor that night because the channel was so intricate that there was no getting in, in the dark. In the morning, coming within gun-shot of the pirate, he received his fire; whereupon Maynard flood directly towards him, endeavouring to make a running fight. After this proceeded a bloody fight. Maynard's men being moſt expofed, he loft twenty at one broadside; upon which he ordered his men under deck, and bid them get ready for close fighting upon the first signal. Then Blackbeard's men poured in grenadoes; after which, feeing no hands on board, he told his men they were all kill'd: let us jump in, and fall to plunder: which they had no sooner done, but the lieutenant and his men gave them as unwelcome a reception as ever they met with before. The lieutenant and Blackbeard fired firſt at each other, and then they went to it ſword in hand, whilſt the men on each fide were as warmly engaged as their captain, until the veſſel was covered all over with blood. Blackbeard flood it till he had received above twenty wounds, five of them being ſhots, before he fell down dead. Eight of his fourteen men being killed, and the other fix much wounded, they called quarter, which was granted; and then the lieutenant attacked the men, with equal bravery, who remained in the floop, and took them.

The lieutenant caufed Blackbeards' head to be cut off, and hung at the bowſprit end; with which he failed to Bath Town to get his wounded men cured; and then began to rummage the pirate floop, aboard which he found ſeveral letters of correfpondance between the governor of North Carolina, and secretary, and fome traders of New York, and Blackbeard. Thereupon, going to Bath Town, in North Carolina, he feized, in the governor's ſtorehouſe, the fixty hogheads of sugar, and his secretary's (Mr Knight) twenty, which was their dividend of the plunder taken in the French ship beforementioned.

After his men were a little recovered, he returned to the men of war in James's river, in Virginia, with Blackbeard's head hanging at the bowſpirt, and fifteen prifoners, thirteen of whom were hanged: one of them being taken, the night before, out of a trading floop; and the other, not being in the C

THE HISTORY OF

26
the fight, was taken at Bath Town, having been juft before
disabled by Blackbeard in one of his drunken humours.
The night before the engagement, being aſked if he should

The night before the engagement, being aſked if he should
chance to be killed, whether his wife knew where his money
was: he anſwered, that nobody but the devil and himſelf
knew where it was and the longeſt liver ſhould take all

The Names of the Pirates killed in the Engagement were.

Edward Blackbeard, commander; Philip Morton, gunner;
Garrat Gibbons, boatfwain; Owen Roberts, carpenter;
Thomas Millar, quarter-mafter; John Hulſk, Joseph Curtice;
Joseph Brooks, and N. Jackson.

These following were hanged, except the two laſt.

John Carnes, John Brooks, James Blake, John Gibbs,
Thomas Gates, James White, Richard Styles, Cæsar, Jofeph
Philips, James Robbins, John Martin. Edward Salter,
Stephen Daniel, Richard Groeſcarl, Israel Hands, and Samuel
Odel.

Major

THE PIRATES.

Major STEDE BONNET, and his
Crew.

THE major was a gentleman of fortune, and diff distinction in
the island of Barbadoes; who, before his piracy, bore
the character of a worthy honest gentleman, and nobody
could ever account of this his undertaking, becaufe he neither
wanted learning nor understanding. He fitted out a floop,
with ten guns and fixty men, which he named the Revenge,
at his own expence, and failed from Barbadoes for the Capes
of Virginia, where he took the Anne from Glafgow, the
Turbet from Barbaboes, the Endeavour from Briltol, the
Young from Leigh, and many others. From thence he
went to New York, and there took a floop and then flood in
at Gardiner's island, where he bought proviſions and went
off.

THE HISTORY OF

28

off. August 1717, he came off the bar of South Carolina, and took a floop and brigantine, which they plundered; he difmitied the brigantine, but took the floop with him to an inlet in North Carolina, where he careened, and fet her on fire.

Afterwards he put to fea, but could not agree with his men what courfe to take; for the major being no failor, was obliged to submit to many things his men impofed upon him. When falling in with Edward Teach, alias Blackbeard, who was a good failor, but a harden'd villain, Bonnet's crew joined with him, and put Bonnet aboard Blackbeard's ship.

But Blackbeard, loling his ship at Topfail Inlet surrender'd to the king's proclamatoin; when Bonnet reaflumed the command of his own floop, and failed directly for Bath Town in North Carolina, where he alfo surrender'd himſelf, and re-ceived a certificate; and getting a clearance for his floop, pretended to fail for the illand of St Thomas, to get the emperor's commiffion to go a privateering upon the Spaniards. But returning to Topfail Inlet, he found that Blackbeard and his gang were gone with their effects; and that they had fet on shore, on a ſmall fandy illand about a league from the continent, 17 men, without any provifions or veſſel to eſcape. There they had been two nights and one day without any ſultenance, when, to their inexprefſible joy, they ſaw major Bonnet, who had ben informed of their being there by two of Blackbeard's crew, who had eſcaped to avoid his cruelty.

Then he ſteered his courſe towards Virginia, where meeting with a pink having provifions on board, and they being in want, he took out of her 10 barrels of pork, and 500 weight of bread, and gave her in exchange ten baſkets of rice and an old cable.

Two days after they took a floop of ſixty tons; from which they took two hogsheads of rum, and two of molasses and then put in her eight men, to take care of the prize floop; but they, not liking their new acquaintance, took the firſt opportunity to get off with her.

After this, the major threw of all reſtraint and became a down right pirate by the name of captain Thomas taking and plundering all the veſſels he met with. He took off Cape Henry, two ſhips from Virginia, bound to Glafgow; the next day a ſmall floop from Virginia, bound to Bermudas, and from which they took twenty barrels of pork, and gave her, in return two barrels of rice, and as much molasses. The next day they took another Virginia man bound to Glafgow, out of which they took two men and a few ſmall things,

THE PIRATES.

29

things, and gave her a barrel of pork, and another of bread. From thence they failed to Philadelphia, where they took a schooner coming from North Carolina to Boſton, from which they took two men, and two dozen of calves ſkins, to make covers for guns. In the latitude of 32, off Delaware river, near Philadelphia, they took two ſnows bound to Brifſtol, from which they took money and goods to the amount of two hundred pounds; as alſo a floop of 60 Tons, from Philadelphia to Barbadoes, out of which they took a few goods, and let her go. The 29th of July, they took a floop of ſifty tons, bound from Philadelphia to Barbadoes loaden with provifion, which they kept, alſo another of 50 tons, from Antigua to Philadelphia, having on board rum, molasses, fugar, cotton, and indigo, to the value of 500 all which they kept. Then they left Delaware bay, and failed to Cape Fear river, where they ſtaid almoſt two months to repair their floop, which proved very leaky; till news came to Carolina, of a pirate's floop, with her prizes, being there a careening.

Whereupon colonel William Rhet offered to go, with two floops, to attack them; which being, by the governor and council, approved of, he was commiſſed on board the Henry, with 8 guns and 70 men, commanded by capt. John Taitere, and the Sea Nymph, commanded by capt. Farrier Hall, with as many guns and men, both under the direction of the colonel. He went on board the Henry, Sept. 14, and failed from Charles Town to Swillivant's illand, in order to cruise, where he was inſoramed by a ſmall ſhip from Antigua, within fight of the bar, was taken and plundered by Charles Vane, in a brigantine of 16 guns and 100 men, that he had taken two floops; one capt. Dill after from Barbadoes, and the other capt. Thomfon, from Guiney, with 70 negroes, which they put on board one Yeates his comfort, a ſmall floop with 25 men; who being weary of this courſe of life, ran into Ediſto river, and surrender'd to his majesty's pardon: by which the owners got their negroes again, and Yeates and his men had their certificates ſign'd.

Vane cruized for ſome time thereabouts, in hopes to take Yeates, and be revenged on him: during which time he took a ſhip bound to London, to whom he gave out that he deſign'd to go fourthward, which colonel Rhet hearing, failed over the bar the 15th, with the two floops, and went after the pirate Vane; but not meeting with him, tacked and ſlood for cape Fear, according to his firſt deſign; and, on the 26 following he entered the river, where he ſaw Bonnet, and the three floops his prizes, at achor; and the pilot running the

C 3

THE HISTORY OF

30

the floop a-ground, hindered their getting up that night. The pirates seeing the floops and not knowing who they were mann'd three canoes, and bent them down to take them; but finding their miftake. Bonnet took all the men out of the prizes to engage them. Colonel Rhet's floops the next morning getting under fail, flood for the pirates, who delign'd only to make a running fight: but the colonel getting upon his quarters, he edged in upon the fhore, and run his floop a ground. The colonel's floops were soon in the fame condition: the Henry grounded within piftol floot of the pirate, upon his bow; the other right a head of him, almott out of gun floot, which made it of but very little ufe to the colonel. By this time the pirate had a very great advantage. For his floop lifted from colonel Rhet's which covered them all over: and the colonel's floop lifting the fame way was much expofed for about five hours, while they lay a ground. The colonel's floop being firſt a float, he got into deeper water, and after mending his rigging, flood for the pirate, to go directly on board him, which they prevented, by hoſting a flag of truce, and soon after ſurrendered. The colonel loft in this action 10 men, and had 14 wounded. The Sea Nymph had 2 killed and 3 wounded. The next day the colonel weighed from Cape Fear, and arrived at Charles Town. Oct. 3. to the no ſmall joy of the people of Carolina.

There being no public prifon. Bonnet was committed in-
to the cuſtody of the marſhal, and his men were kept at the
watch house under a ſtrict guard. A little before the trial,
David Harriot, the matter, and Ignatius Rathe, boatfwain,
the evidences, were removed from the crew to the marſhal's
house, from whence, on the 24th Bonnet and Harriot made
their eſcape; which as ſoon as the governor heard of, he
publifhed a proclamation, promising a reward of 700l. to any
one that would take him, as alſo ſent ſeveral boats with arm-
ed men in purſuit of him.

Bonnet flood to the northward, in a ſmall vessel; but,
who' ſtreſs of weather and want of neceſſaries, he was forced
back to Swillivant's Island. Of which information being
given to the governor, he ſent for colonel Rhet, and deſired
him once more to go in purſuit of him, which the colonel ac-
cepted: and having got all things ready, went that night to
Swillivant's Island; where after a long ſearch, he diſcovered
them. After the colonel's men had fired upon them, and
killed Harriot, Bonnet immediately ſurrendered himſelf, and
was, next morning, brought back to Charles town, and con-
fined under a ſtrong guard till his trial, which was haſtened
tor fear he ſhould give them the flip again.

On

THE PIRATES.

31

On Oct. 28, 1718, a court of vice admiralty was held at
Charles town, and, by ſeveral adjournments to Nov. 12 fol-
lowing, by Nicholes Trot. Eſq. : judge of the vice admiralty,
and chief judge of Carolina, and other aſſistant judges;
when, after the king's commilion was read, and a grand jury
ſworn, judge Trot gave them a learned charge, and then
the grand jury went out and found the bills; upon which a
petit jury was ſworn, and the following perſons were ar-
raigned and tried.

Stede Bonnet, alias Edward, alias Thomas, late of Barbadoes,
merchant,
Robert Tucker, late of Jamaica, merchant.
Edward Robinſon, late of Newcastle upon Tyne, mariner.
Neal Paterſon, late of Aberdeen, do.
William Scot, late of Aberdeen, do.
William Eddy, alias Needy, late of Aberdeen, do.
Alexander Annand, late of Jamaica, do.
George Rofs, late of Glafgow, do.
George Dunbin, late of Glafgow, do.
John Ridge, late of London, do.
Matthew King, late of Jamaica, do.
Daniel Perry, late of Guernſey, do.
Henry Virgin, late of Brilſol do.
James Rattle, alies Robbins, late of London, do.
Thomas Price, late of Brilſol, do.
James Wilſon, late of Dublin, do.
John Lopez, late of Oporto, do.
Zachariah Long, late of Province of Holland, do.
Job Bayly, late of London, do.
John William Smith, late of Charles Town, in South Caro-
lina, do.
Thomas Carman, late of Maidſtone, in Kent, do.
John Thomas, late of Jamaica, do.
William Morifon late of Jamaica, do.
Samuel Booth, late of Charles Town, do.
William Howet, late of Jamaica, do.
John Kent, late of North Carolina, do.
John Livres, alias Evis, late of Carolina, do.
John Brierly, alias Timberhead, late of Bath Town, in North
Carolina, do.
Robert Boyd, late of Bath Town, in North Carolina, do.
Thomas Nicholas, late of London, do.
Rowland Sharp, late of Bath Town, do.
Jonathan Clark, late of Charles Town, do.
Thomas Gerrard, late of Antigua, do.

All

THE HISTORY OF

32

All of whom, except the four laft, were found guilty, and received sentence of death, upon two indictments; viz. for robbing upon the high seas, the Francis, Peter Manwarring, commander; and for feizing, in a piratical manner, the floop fortune, Thomas Read, commander; to which they all pleaded. Not guilty, except Wilfon and Livres, who pleaded guilty to both indictments, and Perry to one only. Bonnet moved to go thro' both the indictments at once: but the court over ruling it, he was found guilty of one, and retracted his plea to the other. They made but little defence, pre tending they were taken off a Marcon thore, and were ship ped with major Bonnet to go to St. Thomas's; but wanting provifions, they were obliged to do what they did; and the major himfelf pretended it was neceffary and not inclination that compelled them to do it. But that not appearing, they having all fhared 10 or 11l. a man, except the four laft, they were all found guilty. After which they judge fet forth the enormity of the crime, and then pronounced judgment upon the perfons aforefaid, except major Bonnet, who not being brought back in time, was not tried till November 10; and being then alfo found guilty, he received sentence in like manner as the others; before whom judge Trot made an ex cellent ſpeech, faying afterwards :

" And now having discharged my duty as a chriftian, I muſt do my office as a judge: which is, You the faid Stede " Bonnet, ſhall go from hence to the Place from whence you came, and from thence to the place of execution, where you ſhall be hanged by the neck till you are dead, and the " Lord have mercy upon your foul."

Capt.

THE PIRATES.

33

Capt. ENGLAND and his Crew.

EDWARD England went mate of a floop that failed out of Jamiaca, and was taken by Winter a pirate, from whom he had the command of a floop juſt before their fet tlement at Providence. The man was brave and good natur ed, and far from being cruel, as moſt of them are; and would not have committed to barbarous actions as he did, had not his companions compelled him to it.

He failed to the coaſt of Africa, after the inſland of Provi dence was inhabited by the English. In his paſſage he took ſeveral ſhips, particularly the Cadogan ſnow belonging to Briſtol, one Skinner maſter, who was murdered by thofe men who had formerly ſerved under him. Upon a quarrel that happened between Skinner and them, about their wages, he ſhipt them on board a man of war, from which they desert ed,

THE HISTORY OF

34

ed, and went on board a ship in the West Indies, where they
were taken by a pirate, and brought to Providence, and then
they failed with England a pirating.

As soon as Skinner came on board, he saw his old boat-
swain, who said, ah ! capt. Skinner, is it you? I am much in
your debt, and now I shall pay you in your own town.
These words put the captain in a panic; and indeed he had
realon to be afraid, for they immediately feized him, bound
him to the windles, pelted him with glafs bottles, afterwards
whipped him about the deck, and then said, becaufe he had
been a good mafter he should have an eafy death; and so
fhot him through the head. The veffel, and her cargo, they
gave to Howel Davis

After this England went into a harbour to clean his ship,
and also fitted up the Peterborough, which he called the
Victory. Then putting out to sea, they failed for the Eaft
Indies, and made Madagascar by the way. From thence,
after taking in water and provifions, they went to Malabar,
in the empire of the Mogul. Here they took feveral Indian
veffels and one European, a Dutch ship, which they exchang-
ed for one of their own; and then came back to Madagafcar,
where they ſent ſeveral hands afhore to kill venifon and then
refolved to ſEEK out for the remains of Avery's crew: but re-
turning without ſucces, they being fettled on the other side,
they ſtaid no longer than till they had cleaned their ſhips,
and then failed to Juanna.

In the year 1720, the Bombay fleet, confliting of four grabs,
the London Chandois, and ſome other ſhips, carried 1000
men to bombard and batter Gapra, a fort belonging to
Angria on the Malabar coſt: which they not being able to
do, ſell in with the pirates in their return to Bombay. But
capt. Upton the Commodore, having no orders, would not
engage them; which ſo provoked the governor, for miffing
ſo favourable an opportunity of cutting the pirates all off,
that he gave the command to capt. Makra, with orders to
fight them where ever he met with them.

But the pirates proceeded to the fourthward, and took a
ſmall ſhip out of Orincro road, with a Dutch and two Portu-
gueze men on board, one of whom they ſent to the captain,
to inform him, that if he would ſupply them with water and
proviſions he ſhould have his veſſel again. But the mafter
would not agree to it; whereupon they ſent other perſons
aſhore, and ſware he ſhould be the laſt man they would give
quarter to, and ſo put immediately for Laccadeva ifland, and
arrived there in three days. But being informed by a
Menchew, there was no anchor ground, they went to
the

THE PIRATES.

35

the next ifland, called, Melincha, whence they were driven by
a ſtorm, leaving behind them a hundred people, and all their
water caſks; but in a week's times they regained the ifland,
took their people on board, and filled their caſks. Proviſions
being ſcare they refolved to viſit the Dutch at Cochin, and
after three days fail arrived off Tellicherry, where they took
a ſmall veſſel belonging to governor Adam's; who, giving
an account of capt. Makra's ſitting out againſt them, put
them into a grievous paſſion.

Afterwards they arrived at Mauritius, where they refitted
the Victory, and then failed, April 5. for Madagascar, but
called firſt at the ifland Maſcarine, at the which they found a
Portugueze ſhip, of 70 guns, at anchor, diſabled by a violent
ſtorm, ſo that they eafily became a prey to the pirates. She
had on board the Conde Ereceira, vice roy of Goa: they
found on board her, in diamonds only, to the value of four
millions of dollars. They made the vice-roy prifoner, but
in confideration of his loſſes, accepted a ranſom of 2000
dollars, and then ſet him and his followers aſhore. Hearing
that an Oſtender was on the leeward of that ifland, they
failed, and took her, and ſent her to Madagascar with news
of their ſucces, where they followed themſelves ſoon after,
with 200 Mezambique negroes, in the Portugueze ſhip.

When Taylor came with the Portugueze prize to Mada-
gafcar, they found that the Oſtender had made his men drunk,
and ſeized his ſhip, which they carried to the Mezambique,
from whence the governor ordered her for Goa. But the
pirates ſtaid and clean'd the Caſlandra, and divided very
great plunder. Some who thought they had got enough,
ſtaid at Madagascar; and the reſt, having no occafion for
two ſhips, burnt the Victory, ſhe being leaky, and went on
board the Caſlandra, under the command of capt. Taylor,
deſigning to go for Cochin, to diſpofe of their diamonds a-
mong their old friends the Dutch, and alſo to avoid the men
of war that were in purſuit of them. But, as he was pre-
paring to fail, he heard of four men of war coming after him;
therefore he altered his mind, failed for the main of Africa,
and put in at Delagoa; where they were ſurprized in the e-
vening with ſome thot from the ſhore. They took it for a
defart ſhore, but it proved otherwife; for a few months
before, the Dutch Eaſt India company had ſettled 100 men
on it; who, not being ſupplied with neceſſaries, were reduced
to about 26, whom Taylor, on their humble petition took on
board, and they all became pirates with him.

Here they ſtayed about four months, careened their ſhips,
and left Delagoa the latter end of December; but not agree-

108

THE HISTORY OF

ing among themselves, they parted; those who were weary
of that fort of life, went on board the Portugueze prize, and
failed for Madgafcar; the others went on board the Caf-
sandra, and failed for the Spanish West Indies. The Mermaid
man of war, who was convoy to some merchantmen, would
have gone to attack them had not the merchants, whom he
had the care of declared, their protection was of more
service than destroying the pirates; and so he was obliged
to be content with only dispatching the news of it to Jamaica.
This brought down the Lancefton, tho' it was a day or two
too late; for they had just surrendered, with all their riches
to the governor of Porto Bello, where they now live upon
their spoils, faying, others would have done as much, had
they had the fame opportunity. Swearing, that whatever
robberies they committed, they are not the only rogues in
the world; for that the South Sea did more mischief in a
year, than they were able to do in their whole lives.

Capt.

THE PIRATES.

Capt. CHARLES VANE, and his Crew.

CHARLES VANE went to Providence, after he had stole
the silver from the Spaniards, fetch'd up from the
wrecks in the gulph of Florida. There he was when capt.
Rogers arrived. Most of the pirates had then submitted
and received certificates, except Vane and his crew; who,
upon fight of capt Rogers, fet fire to a prize they had in
the harbour, hoisted their bloody flag, and fired at one of
the men of war as they went off.

Two days after they met with a floop belonging to Bar-
badoes, which he took, and put 20 hands on board, with
one Yates to command. Three days after, he fell in with
an interloping trader, laden with pieces of eight, bound to
Providence, which he also boarded. With these two prizes

D

they

38 THE HISTORY OF

they went to an uninhabited island and shared their booty,
spending their time in extravagance, as most pirates do.

In May 1718, being in want of provisions they made to
the windward, where they met with a Spanish fleet bound to
the Havanna, which they burnt, and putting the Spaniards
in a boat, bid them go ashore by its light. Then they fell
in with a brigantine between St. Kitts and Anguilla, with
provisions, which was what they much wanted. Afterwards,
standing to the Northward, they took several ships, all which
they plundered, and then let them go.

In August, Vane, with his comfort Yates, came off South Carolina, and took a ship belonging to Ipfwich, laden with log wood, which they ordered the crew to throw overboard; but before they had half done he would not have her, but let her go about her business. In this voyage he took several other vessels, particularly a large brig from Guinea, having 90 negroes aboard. The negroes he put on board Yates's vessel, by which means the right owners came to have them again.

Vane having always treated his comfort Yates and his crew
rudely, as only a tender to him, displeased him in such a
manner that he resolved to take the first opportunity to leave.
Vane and accept of his majesty's pardon. Besides, the put-
ting so many negroes aboard still aggravated the matter, tho'
concealed it for the present. But within a day or two,
Yates came into North Edisto river, and sent an express to
the governor, to desire the benefit of his majesty's pardon ;
which being granted, he surrendered the fleet and negroes,
and he and his men received certificates. The negroes capt.
Thomson had, for the use of the owners.

But Vane went into an inlet to the northward, where he
met with Blackbeard, whom he saluted with his guns loaded
with shot, fired, in the air, as is customary among pirates, and
Blackbeard returned the salute; after which mutual civilities
paffed between them. In two or three days Vane left Black-
beard, and failed to the northward, when he took a small
brig off Long Island, bound from Jamaica to New England,
which they rifled, and then sent her away. From thence he
cruised between cape Meigs and cape Nicholas, tho' without
any succurs, for a long time. At length he met with a fleet,
which he expected to strike upon hoisting the black flag, but
it proved to be a French man of war, which Vane perceiving,
he trimmed his sails and hauled away. The Frenchman let
all sails, and crowded after him. Vane was for making off,
as fast as he could, and having the heels of the man of war,
got clear off.

The

THE PIRATES.

The next day the matter was called over again, and they
deposed Vane from the command for being a coward, and
put him on board a small fleet they had before taken, with
all those who voted for him and gave them provisions and
ammunition to look out for themselves. After this, they
chose John Rackham captain, and failed for the Carribee
islands.

Vane failed for the bay of Honduras repaired his fleet,
and then failed for the N. W. part of Jamaica, where he took
a fleet and two pettiaugers, out of which he took the men,
but kept the fleet, making Robert Deale captain. Coming
into the bay, they found only the ship Pearl at anchor, who
gave them a gun or two : but the pirates hoisting the black
flag the fleet, and they carried her to Beruacko. In their
way they took a fleet, and made prizes of her. From hence
they failed a cruising. Vane meeting with a violent tornado,
he was soon separated from his comfort, and drove upon a
small uninhabited island, where his fleet was staved, and
most of his men drowned : but he escaped, and lived some
weeks upon the substance of fishermen, who frequent the
island to catch turtles; in which a fleet from Jamaica,
Holdford captain, put in there for water, who knowing Vane
would have nothing to say to him. Afterwards another
ship put in, and not knowing him, took him aboard. Hold-
ford returning from the bay, was met by the fleet that had
Vane aboard her, the captain whereof invited Holdford to
dine with him, which he did; and seeing Vane he said to the
captain, do you know who you have aboard here? The
captain answered, I have ship'd a man who was cast away
in a trading fleet; he seems to be a brisk hand : It is (says
Holdford) Vane, the notorious pirate. Then (said the other)
I will not keep him. Send him aboard me (says Holdford)
and I will surrender him at Jamaica. Accordingly Holdford
fent his boat well man'd to fetch him on board, and then
put him into irons till he delivered him into the hands of
justice at Jamaica, where he was tried, condemned and ex-
cused : as was also, a little before, his comfort Robert Deale,
brought thither by a man of war.

D 2

Capt.

THE HISTORY OF

40

Capt. JOHN RACKHAM, and his crew.

John Rackham was quarter master to Vane's company, till Vane was turned out for not fighting the French man of war and Rackham made captain in his place, which happened about Nov. 28, 1718. His first course was among the Caribbee Islands, where he took and plundered several vessels. Afterwards, to the windward of Jamaica, he fell in with a Wadeira man, which he detained until he had made his market of her, and then reflored her to her master, suffering Hofea Tifdal, a tavern keeper in Jamaica, whom he had taken among his prizes, to go on board her, the being bound for that island.

Afterwards he failed towards the island Bermudas, where he took a ship bound to England from Carolina, and a small ship from New England, both which he carried to the Behama

THE PIRATES.

41

islands, and there cleaned. But staying too long in that neighbourhood, capt. Rogers sent out a floop well manned, which retook both the prizes, but the pirates made their escape.

From thence they proceeded to the back of Cuba, where Rackham staid a long time with his Dalilahs, till their provision was consumed, and then he concluded it time to look out for more; when as he was putting to sea, a guarda coffa came in with a small English floop, which he had taken as an interloper on the coast. The Spaniards seeing the pirates, attacked her, but finding he could not come up with her that night, as they lay close behind a little island, warps into the channel to make sure of her in the morning. Upon this Rackham took the crew into the boat, with their pitfoils and cutlasses, and falls aboard the Spaniards in the night, without being discovered, telling them, if they spoke, they were dead men. So flipping the cables drove out to sea, and waking the captain and his men in their hammocks, who rose in full expectation of the prize, they commanded them to take the boat immediately, or they were all dead men, and sent them aboard their empty floop.

In the beginning of September, they went off the French part of Hifpaniola, where they took two or three Frenchmen aboard, who were looking after some cattle grazing near the water side; then plundering two floops, they returned to Jamaica, where they took a schooner.

Rackham continuing about this island longer than a man of his buineſs ought to have done, give time to a canoe, which they had furprized in Ocho Bay, to inform the governor of Jamaica of Rackham's civilities to all he met with, going or coming from the island. Thereupon a Sloop was sent out in quest of him, well man'd and arm'd, under capt. Barnet, to repay him for all his good natur'd actions, and if possible, to bring him to the island. In the mean time Rackham met, near the Eegril point, a small pettiauger, which upon fight of him run afshore, and landed her men; but Rackham hailing them, deſired the pettiauger's men to come aboard him and drink a bowl of punch; ſwearing they were all friends, and would do them no harm. Hereupon they agreed to his request, and went aboard him, tho' it proved fatal to every one of them, they being nine in all. For they were no sooner got aboard, as bad laid down their muskets and cutlasses, in order to take up their pipes and make merry with their new acquaintance over a can of flip, but capt. Barnet's Sloop was in fight, which soon but a damp to all their merriment. Finding the flood directly towards them, they

D3

42 THE HISTORY OF

they immediately weighed ancher and flood off. Barnet gave them chace, and having the advantage of the wind, foon came up with them, gave them a broadside or two, and after a very small dispute, took them and their nine new guest(s), and brought them altogether into Port Royal, in about a fortnight's time.

Nov. 10. 1720, a court of Admiralty was held at St. Jago de la Vega, where the following persons were tried and convicted of piracy and accordingly sentence of death was passed upon them by the governor, viz. John Rackham, captain; George Fetherstone, master; Richard Corner, quartermaster; John Davis, John Howel, Patrick Carty, Thomas Earl, James Dobbins, and Noah Harwood. Five of whom were hanged the next day at Gallows Point, and reft the day after. The three first were taken and hung in chains; Rackham at Plump Point, Fetherstone at Bath Quay, and Corner at Port Quay.

But what was yet more strange, was the conviction of the nine guest(s) who knew nothing of the matter, or at least they pretended so. But the people would not believe them, because it was proved that they came on board with piroots and cutlaffes. However they were so much favoured as to have the court adjourn'd to the 24th of January following to give a better account of them(s) than at that appeared to the court. Besides, the jury also then wanting sufficient evidence to prove the pyratial intention of going on board the foon floop. The two Frenchmen taken by Rackham from the island of Hifpaniola, depofed, that John Edton, Edward Warner, Thomas Baker, Thomas Quick, John Cole, Benjamin Palmer, Walter Roufe, John Hanfon, and John Howard, came on board the pirate's floop at Negial point, in Jamaica. Indeed they owned, that at first light of them, they ran away from Rackham's floop; but that he hailing them, they returned, and Rackham sent his canoe to fetch them aboard him, when they law them all armed with guns and cutlaffes, which they brought with them; and that when they were chafed by captain Barnet they were frank and free, some drinking and walking about the deck not at all dispirited; during which time there was a great gun and small arms fired by the pirate at capt. Barnet's floop; but that they could not fay that the prisoners were any way concerned in it; However, they were certain, that when capt. Barnet's floop fired at Rackham's floop, the prisoners at the bar went under deck, for cowardice as they fuppofed, not so much as one peeping up during the whole action. But when captain Barnet grew high to them to board them, all of them came

THE PIRATES.

43 came up and helped to row the floop in order to escape from him; and that Rackham's men and they seemed to agree very well together; and that they did verily believe they were all of a party, having heard them fay, when they came on board, that they liked them never the worse for being pirates, since they were all honest boys, and loved their bottles and girls.

To which the prisoners answered in their own defence that they were a great way off from friends and acquaintance, and therefore it was poffible to have any one to give an account of them. That they were very honest pains taking men, and came out to go a turtling to provide for their families; accordingly going ashore at Negril point, they faw a floop with a white pendant making towards them, whereupon they took up their arms, which were no other than what all people carry on such occasions, and ran into the woods to hide them(s) among the bushes, not knowing what they might be; but when they hailed them, and told them they were Englishmen, they ventured out, and came aboard them, as they defied, to drink a bowl of punch, they being poor men, who got their livelihood very hardly, and fuch a thing was very acceptable to them. But when they came on board the floop, to their great surprize they found they were pirates; upon which they begged to be releafed; but Rackham fwores, that if they did not fay and affift him againft the floop that was coming down againſt them, he would cut all their throats. So being compelled thereunto by Rackham and his men, to fave their lives they did affift them, but with no other design then to prevent their being cut to pieces; but as foon as capt. Barnet came up with them, they all very readily and willingly submitted.

This being all they had to fay in their own defence the prisoners were ordered from the bar. The court was divided in their judgments, but the majority was of opinion, they were all guilty of the piracy and felony they were charged with. Thereupon they all received sentence of death, as usual in such cafes, the judge making them a very pathetic fpeech, exhorting them to bear their sufferings patiently; affaring them that if they were innocent, which he very much doubted, their reward would be greater in the other World, but every body must own their cafe was hard in this.

February the 17th, John Eaten, Thomas Quick, and Thomas Barber, were accordingly executed at Gallows Point and the next day, John Cole, John Howard, and Benjamin Palmer, underwent the same fate at Kingston. The other three

THE HISTORY OF

44
three got a reprieve, they being againft going on board the
pirates floop, and are now living.

Two pirates more of Rackham's crew, who had been formerly convicted being brought up, and asked if they had any thing to say why sentence of death should not pafs upon them alfo, both, to the great surprize of the court, pleaded their bellies they being quick with child, and therefore prayed to delay pronouncing their sentence; which the court after some debates, agreed to, ordering them back till a proper jury of woman should more fully enquire into their condition. An account of which the reader may expect more fully in the lives of Mary Read and Anne Boony, next following.

MARY READ, a Pirate.

MARY Read's father was born in the West Indies, and brought up to fea under his father, who was master of a floop that traded between Bolton, and the Leeward Islands,

THE PIRATES.

in which he got a pretty deal of money and had several children, the eldest whereof was John Read, who coming over to England, and getting acquainted with one Rachel Robinson, a young fireship well equipt and rigged, he was married to her, by Dr. Colfon, at the Fleet. After this he took to drinking pale ale at Jack Needham's the Hole in the Wall, in Vinegar Yard. Here he got into a quarrel, over his cups, with one capt. Smart, whom he killed, for which he was forced to fly, leaving his wife big with child to take care of herself.

He shipt himself immediately on board the Nonsuch for Virginia. His father being informed of his marriage in England, give him but a cold reception; however, the mother, whose darling he always was, equipt him out, and sent him on board the Defiance for Guinea, a second mate: where he, with a part of the crew, killed the captain, seized the ship, and turned pirates. A little after, careening at an inlet in North Carolina, he met with Avery, whom he joined with, till they fettled in Madagafcar.

In the mean time his father died at Virginia, and the mother hearing nothing of her fon, sent for her daughter to come over with the child to Virginia, and she would take care of them; which the daughter readily agreed to, by reafon her fon was heir to a small estate which the grand-father left behind him. There she flaid three or four years, till she was got with child by a young gentleman of that country, who promifed her marriage; but not doing it, to hide her fame, she resolved to return to England; and altho' the mother begged of her to leave the child behind, she would not consent, but took him along with her. He dying at fea, and the being brought to bed of a girl as soon as she landed; when it grew up the dreft it in boy's cloath's, in order to deceive her mother, and make her pafs for her fon's boy: but her mother, upon the return of the ship, hearing of the death of the child, would not fend her any remittances; and she, being ahamed to own the cheat among her acquaintances, continued the girl in boy's cloath's till she came to be about 13 years of age, when she put her out for a foot-boy to a French lady, with whom she did not live long before she entered herfelf on board a ship bound for the East Indies; and upon her return, quitted the fea-fervic'e, and went over into Flanders, where she carried arms as a cadet, thewing a great deal of courage on all occafions, but yet was never able to get a commiffion. Wherefore she quitted the foot fervice, and took into regiment of horfe, where by her bravery and valour, she got the eſteem of all her officers.

Her

THE HISTORY OF

45

Her comrade happening to be a handsome young fellow, she fell in love with him, and grew more negligent of her duty, so that she was soon taken notice of by her commanders. Whenever her comrade was ordered out upon duty she would be with him, and very often do the duty for him, running herself into danger, when she had no business, only to be near him; which made the troopers believe she was mad, and her comrade thought her little better, not dreaming what was the matter; till one night she found out a way of letting him discover her sex, without any appearance that it was done by design. This surprized him greatly at first; but recollecting himself; he was overjoyed he should have a mistref to himself, that not being useful in a camp, because the woman who follow them are generally as common as the highway. But he soon found his mistake, the proved very modeft and referved, refting all his temptations, and affur-ing him, that the caufe of her difguife was pure love to him, and not with any intent of being a whore. This modeft behaviour of her's quite changed his paffion of juſt into pure love and reſpect, this being what he defined. At length, finding him fincere, he gave mutual promifes to each other, in token whereof they broke a chilling, agreeing to be marr-ied as soon as the campaign was over, and they matched in- to winter quarters. This caufed a great noife, not only in the army, but also in our news papers, of two troopers being married; moſt of the officers of the garrifon being at the wedding: amongst whom they made a very handsome collection for the bride towards house-keeping, every body giving something; which made them defire their discharge out of the ſervice that they might put themselves into ſome way of living, having got about a rool, collected for them. Their discharge being readily granted, they fet up an eating house; at the ſign of the Valiant Trooper, near the cattle of Breda, where they had a very good trade, every body frequenting their house out of curioty.

But this held not long; for her husband drinking too hard threw him ſelf into a ſever, and died just before the peace of Refwick. After which money beginning to grow ſhort with her, made her think of putting on man's apparel again, which she did, and ſhip'd herself on board a veſſel bound for the West Indies.

In this voyage the ſhip was taken by pirates, and Mary Read being the only English perſon on board, they kept her, and after plundering the ſhip let it go. With them she joined, they being all Englishmen, and followed the trade of piracy for above a year, till the king's proclamation came out, and

was

THE PIRATES

47

was published in all the colonies in the West Indies for pardoning all pirates who would surrender by a certain appointed time. This was no sooner made known to the crew that Mary Read belonged to, but they all surrendered, and took the benefit of the king's mercy. Afterwards hearing that Capt. Wood Rogers, who was then governor of the island of Providence, was fitting out a privateer to cruise against the Spaniards, the moſt of them embarked for that island, amongst whom was Mary Read; she being resolved to make her fortune one way or another, let the event be what it would.

They had not been long at sea, but they rebelled on ſome pretence of other, against their captain and flung him overboard, and then fell to their old trade of pirating again; with whom Mary Read joined altho' she had often before declared, that she thought the life of a pirate the worth life in the world. She pretended, when, after being taken, she was upon her trial, (as indeed moſt of them do) that what she did was upon compulsion, and to fave her life; notwithstanding the evidence against her, who were forced men, politively ſwore that in the time of action nobody on board was more bold and refolute than Mary Read and Anne Bonny to attack any ſhip; and particularly at the time they were taken, when they came to cloſe quarters; which was the ſum of what was tworn against her. But she denied it with a great deal of art and skill, ſaying, it was impoſſible for a woman to be guilty of what they ſwore against her, and that she entered into the ſervice of the privateer purely upon the account of Anne Bonny, who was her lover; being ſenſible if she had not put herſelf into difguife she should not have been admitted on board the ſhip. This had ſome weight with the jury as well as the judge, for it plainly appeared by all the witneſſes that she had always behaved herſelf very modeſtly among the men.

But to return to the ſhip's crew. They took a great many ſhips belonging to the West Indies, Virginia, &c. In one of which was a young gentleman with whom Mary Read fell in love, being so smitten with him, that she could not reſt day nor night; but all the difficulty was to let him know it; therefore first the inflinuated herſelf into his good opinion, by exclaiming against the life of a pirate, ſaying, I abhor it above all things in the world, but was forced to it. This much pleased her gallant, and made him put great confidence in her, to that they became meſs-mates, being always together. But afterwards, finding him one time in a very good honour, she negligently threw her braſſes, which soon difcovered

THE HISTORY OF

48

covered to the young Spark what a mate he had got. Upon
which he began to enquire who she was, and how she came
among them, To which she answered with a modeft blush,
it was by compulsion; for being at fea to see fome relations
in England, I put on man's apparel to prevent my being ill
ufed by feamen; and being taken in the difguife, I continu-
ued in it, for fear of being ufed by the barbarous crew of
pirates.

This had ſuch an effect on the young gentleman, that they
gave mutual promifes to each other of marrying, which
Mary Read frankly told him ſhe looked upon to be as good
a marriage as any Minifter could make in a church, eſpecially
ſince no perſon could be had in that place. To him ſhe owed
her life after wards; for he getting her with child, the plead-
ed her belly, and being found quick with child her executi-
on was reſpited till after her delivery; during which time
ſhe behaved with ſo much modeſtly and devotion, that it is
probable ſhe would have obtained a pardon, had ſhe not
been seized with a violent fever, which put an end to all her
troubles.

ANNE

THE PIRATES.

49

ANNE BONNY, a Pirate.

ANNE Bonny was an illegitimate daughter of an attorney
at Cork, in Ireland, who was a married man; but his
wife being ill, she retired into the country for the change of
air, (according to the advice of her phyſicians,) to a country
houſe not far distant where her hufband's mother lived.
There she ſtayed some time, her hufband, on account of his
butineſs, living at Cork as ufual; during which, a ſervant
maid, whom the left to look after the houſe, was courted by
a young fellow, a ſhoemaker, of that town, who taking an
opportunity, one day ran away with a filver tankard; which
the maid ſoon miſing, and knowing nobody had been there
but himſelf, charged him with it, and he ſtify denied it.
This put the maid in ſuch a paſſion, that ſhe faid ſhe would
fetch a conſtable, and have him before a Juſtice, if he would
not give it her. At this poor Crispin was almoſt frighted out
of

50

THE HISTORY OF

of his wits, not knowing what to do; but at last he resolved to convey it between the fleets in her own bed, thinking she would be sure to find it at night, and then it would palls for a jeet. He had no sooner done so than he went away laughing. The maid not finding it, went to a justice to have him taken up. In the mean time the miftrefs came home with her husband's mother. The first news she heard was the lots of her tankard. Crispin applies to the miftrefs, and tells her the whole story; which at first she could scarce believe, but going into the maid's room, and turning down the bed cloaths, she found the tankard: then coming to the shoe-maker, she bid him go home and mind his bulinefs, and not trouble himself any more about the matter. But from hence she concluded, that the maid had not been in her own bed, it being above a week since the tankard had been put there. Upon this the miftrefs grew jealous, and inspected the maid had supplied her place in her absence, calling to mind several kindnesſes her husband had shewed to the maid. One circumstance was that altho' he knew of her coming home that day, yet he went out of town in the morning.

To find out the truth, she left the tankard in the bed as she found it, ordering the maid to put on clean fleets, telling her that she defigned to lie there that night, and that she should lie with her mother-in-law in her bed; which when the maid was going to do, she found the tankard in her bed. Being conscious of her own guilt, she takes it and puts it into her trunk intending to leave it in some corner of the house, where it might be found next morning.

The miftrefs, that nothing might be suspected lies that
night in the maid's bed. She found that the maid had con-
veyed away the tankard, but little dreamt of what did fol-
low; For as she was studying what to do in the morning,
the heard somebody creeping into the room whom the at
first took to be thieves; but hearing him cry out, Mary, are
you sleep? she knew it was her husband; therefore the lay
snug, counterfeiting herself to be asleep, in expectation of
being killed.

He thinking the maid had been asleep flipped into bed to
his wife, and began to kisſ her, believing he had been his
maid; and then falling asleep, he stole away, leaving him in
bed: But waking in the morning, he got up not thinking it
proper to be caught in the maid's bed. In the mean time the
miftrefs was studying how he should be revenged of the
maid, and in the morning fent for a confable, and charged
her with stealing the tankard; which was found in her trunk:
on which the maid was carried before a justice and commit-
ted to prifon.

The

THE PIRATES.

51

The husband finding when he aroſe, his wife was come
home, went out privately, loitering away his time till about
noon, and then come home. As soon as he heard what was
done in relation to his maid, he fell into a great puff, up-
braiding his wife with barbarity. His mother took his wife's
part, adviling her to leave him, and come back with her into
the country; which she did, never bedding with him after-
wards.

The maid lay in prifon near half a year, and then was diſ-
charged at the affizes, her miftrefs (being conscious of her
innocence as to the theft) never appearing againſt her,
thinking she had been ſufficiently revenged of her by her
long confinement. She had not been long out of prifon but
she was delivered of a girl who was called Anne.

Not long after the mother fell ill, and fent to her Son to be
reconciled to his wife, telling him how it was, but he would
hearken to nothing. Thereupon the made her will, and left
all the had to the children, under the management of certain
truſtees, and ſo died.

This was unluck for him, becaute his chief dependance
was on her; yet his wife proved kinder to him than he de-
ferved, allowing him ſomething out of what was left (tho'
they lived ſeperate) for about five years, until he took home
the girl he had by the maid; whom to diſguſe the matter
from his wife, he put into boy's cloaths pretending it was a
relations child. The wife hearing thereof, ſoon diſcovered
that it was otherwife by a friend talking with the child; up-
on which the being unwilling that her children's money
should be ſpent in maintaining a baſtard, kept back the al-
lowance.

The husband finding it blown, takes home the maid and
lives with her publikly. This caues him ſoon to loſe moſt
of his bulineſs: wherefore he resolved to move, turning what
effects he had into ready money and with his maid and
daughter embarked for Carolina. When he arrived there he
at first thought to follow the law, but finding that would not
do, he turned merchant and got a great deal of money
thereby. After ſome time his maid dying, and his daughter
being grown up, he kept his houſe. She was naturally of a
fierce lavage temper, which was very much to her diſad-
vantage when the lay under condemnation, ſeveral ſtories be-
ing raiſed againſt her on that account, tho' many of them
proved falſe; but it is certain when a young fellow would
have ravithed her, the beat him ſo that he died of the
bruſes.

E. 2

While

THE HISTORY OF

52

While she lived with her father she was courted by many men of fortune, but she spoiled all by marrying a feeman not worth a groat. This so provoked her father that he turned her out of doors; and her husband finding himself disappointed of his wife's fortune, they both flipped themselves for Providence, where she became acquainted with Rackham the pirate, with whom she agreed to elope, and go to sea, drefled in man's cloaths; after which, proving with child, Rackham landed her in the island of Buba, there to lie in: and when she was up took her on board again. But the king's proclamation for pardoning pirates coming out, he took the benefit of it, tho' afterwards, going a privateering, he returned to his old trade, having Anne Bonny with him, who appeared, upon all occasions, as bold and forward as any of them.

Her father having in good reputation at Carolina, was known to many gentlemen in Jamaica, who were inclined to sew her mercy, but the leaving her husband was an ugly circumstance against her. Before Rackham died he desired to see her, but all the comfort she gave him was, That if he had fought like a man he need not have died like a dog. She was continued in prifon till delivered, and then pardoned; what became of her after is uncertain.

Capt.

THE PIRATES.

53

Capt. HOWEL DAVIS, and his Crew.

HOWEL Davis was born at Milford Haven in Wales; and was, from a child, brought up to the sea. While he was young, he failed several times upon the coasts, and once or twice to Ireland: but when he began to grow up he went on board the Cadogan Snow, capt. Skinner for Guiney. The chief mate dying in their paflage, Davis succeeded him. Soon after they were taken by the pirate England, on the coaft of Sierralam, and plundered, and capt. Skinner murdered: after whose death, Davis pretended to the crew, that he was very much solicited by England to engage with him; but that he refused it faying, he had rather be shot to death than turn pirate; upon which England (finding him a brave fellow, and that he could do nothing with him) voluntarily gave him the snow, bidding him purfue his voyage, with

E 3

orders

THE HISTORY OF

54

orders not to opon the infructions he gave hin in writing till
he came into a certain latitude, upon peril of his life, Davis
readily complied with his command, and when he opened it,
read it to the ship's company : wherein was an order for
him to go to Brazil and fell the cargo, giving him a deed of
gift of ship and cargo, as if he had been merchant and
owner.

Thereupon Davis propofed to the crew, whether they
were willing to follow England's commands, or run the
hazard of meeting with him again, and be killed. But to his
great furprize he found they were all for carrying the ship to
fome port or other. Then he bid them be damned, and go
where they would; whereupon they fteered for Barbadoes
knowing that part of the goods were configned to a merchant
in that island; where, when they arrived, they told the
merchant what had pafled as to Skinner's death and what
Davis had faid to them at fea; on which he was feized and
committed to prifon; but never having been in any act of
piracy, was difcharged from his confinement without trial,
after three months imprifonment.

Davis defpairing of employment from the owners got to
Providence, then the common haunt of pirates, to make
one of them, but was difappointed; but being a good failor,
tho' a great rogue, was not long out of bufinefs; for capt.
Rogers fitting out two floops for trade, Davis goes on board
one of them, with many of the pirates who had accepted of
the late act of grace. Finding the floop had rich lading, they
rofe in the night, fecured the matter of the floop in which
Davis was, feizing the ship as foon as they arrived at
Martinico: which done they called to their companions,
knowing they had a great man on board of their own kid-
ney, and bid them come on board them, which accordingly
many of them did, the reft being permitted to go where they
would with the Indian floop.

After this, Davis was choſen commander by a ſmall ma-
jority, and after, by the conſent of all, confirmed in that ſta-
tion. This was no ſooner done, but he drew up articles,
which were to be ſworn to and ſigned by every one on board;
the contents of which were to ſtand by one another, and to
declare war againſt the world. Then they agreed to go to
Coxton's hole, at the iſland of Cuba, where they at length
arrived, and cleaned their ſhip, tho' with a great deal of
trouble, for having no carpenter on board, they were all
untoward at the buſineſs.

† His being done they made towards the north ſide of Hif-
paniola, where they met with a French ſhip of 12 guns, ha-
ving

THE PIRATES.

55

ving men proportionable; but Davis being in want of pro-
vitions, was obliged to attack her, altho' he had not above
twenty hands on board him, the reſt making their eſcape
while they were cleaning; but the Frenchman prefently
ſtruck, which they had no ſooner done, but Davis ſent ten
hands on board him, to plunder and bring the maſter; of
whom enquiring, what that fail was which he eſpied to the
windward, he anſwered, that he ſuppofed it to be the ſhip
that he ſpoke with the day before, having twenty four guns,
and ſixty men.

Davis ſwere he would be a rare ſhip for their uſe, propo-
fing to his men to attack her; and ſaid he had a ſtratagem
in his head that he was ſure would make all ſafe. Then
they all agreed, and he gave her chace, ordering his prize
to follow him, which being a flow failer, Davis came up
firſt with him, and ſtanding aſide, hoıſted his piratical co-
lours. This much ſurprized the enemy, who told him they
wondered at their impudence, ordering him to ſtrike imme-
diately. But he anſwered them, that he would give them
fome play firſt, as ſoon as his confort came up: and that if
they did not ſtrike to him quickly, they ſhould have no
quarter. Then he gave them a broad-ſide, they returning
him the like.

In the mean time the prize drew near, all the men being
ordered to come upon deck in their ſhirts to make a ſhow
of force; aboard which they also hoıſted their bloody flag
and ſired a gun; this ſo affrighted the Frenchman that they
ſtruck. Then Davis called to the captain to come on board
with twenty of his men, who were all put in irons, and ſix
of Davis men ſent on board her, giving them inſtructions to
nail up the firſt prize, taking out all the ſmall arms and pow-
der, and then to get on board the ſecond, with which he
failed for two or three days. But finding his laſt prize to
be but a very dull failor, he reſtored her to the captain, af-
ter plundering her of all he thought worth taking. The
Frenchman feeing himſelf ſo out-witted, was to provoked
at it that he was going to throw himſelf over board, had
not his men prevented it.

Having put to ſea again, it was agreed, after ſome ſmall
difpute, to go to Gambia, on the coaſt of Guinea, Davis
telling them there was a great deal of money in the caſtle.
Coming within ſlight of the place, he ordered all the men
under deck, except ſuch as were neceſſary to work the ſhip,
and then ran cloſe under the ſhore, and there caſt anchor.
After putting ſix men in common jackets into the boat, with
himſelf, the maſter, and doſtor, who were dreſt like gentle-
men,

THE HISTORY OF

men, he gave them instructions what to do and what to say if they were asked any questions. The governor enquired, what cargo they had. They answered, iron and plate. He then enquired if they had any liquor on board. They said, only a little for their own use. But a hamper should be at his service. Thereupon he invited them all to dine with him. Davis told him he must go on board first and take care of the ship, but his two companions might stay, and that he would return before dinner, and bring the hamper along with him.

While he was in the fort he was very busy in observing how things were: and returning to his men he told them, if they would not get drunk, he was very sure of successes; faying, as soon as you see the flag on the castle struck, be sure I am master, and tend 20 men to me. Then he ordered the hands in the boats to put two pairs of pistols each under their cloaths, giving them directions to go into the guard room and talk with the soldiers, and when they heard him fire a pistol to secure their arms. So going up to the governor with his coxon, who waited on him as his man, they proposed to make a bowl of punch till dinner was ready, when Davis on a sudden drew out a pistol, and clapt it to his breast, wearing he must surrender the fort, or he was a dead man; which usage, the governor not suspecting in the least, was obliged to yield to. Then Davis fires a pistol out of the window, and his men immediately got between the soldiers and their arms, with pistols cocked in their hands, and so feizing them, locked them in the guard room.

In the mean time the master gave the signal to those on board, who sent a reinforcement that took possession of the castle without any noise. Then Davis coming among the soldiers, perfuaded many of them to join with him; the rest he put aboard a little floop in the harbour, taking away all her fails to hinder them from getting away.

The next day was spent in rejoicing the castle and ship saluting one another with their guns. Afterwards they fell to plundering but found not so much treasure as they expected; however they met with about 2000l. in bar gold, and some other rich effects; all which they brought on board their ship, and whatever else they had occasion for; the rest they gave to the master and crew in their little floop, and also his vessel, and then they fell to demolishing the fortifications. Afterwards spying a ship bearing down in full sail upon them, which put them in no small fear, but getting up their anchors they made ready to receive her. She proved a French pirate of 16 guns and 70 men, half

French

THE PIRATES

French and half negroes, under capt. La Boufe, who expected a good prize, till he came near her, and then took her for an English man of war; but it being too late to re-pent he resolved to board her at all hazards, and thereupon he hoisted his black colours, Davis also doing the same. This pleased the Frenchman very much, who immediately went on board his boat to congratulate his brother with a flag of truce in his hand. Davis coming to meet him, they saluted one another, and La Boufe desired they might fail together, and he might get a better ship; to which Davis agreed, promising him the first ship they took.

They failed together till they came to Sierralem, when they espied a tall ship at anchor. Davis making up to her, and coming along side of her, she fired a broadside at him, hoisting up her black flag, as Davis did in like manner, firing a gun to the leeward. This was so great a satisfaction to all fides, that they spent two days in improving their acquaintance, and then agreed to go in La Boufe's brigantine and attack the fort; which suspecting them to be pirates flooded upon their defence, and when they came within musket shot fired all their guns upon her, the brigantine doing the like, and so held one another in play for several hours, till the other ships came up to their assistance; when the fort had not the courage to stand it any longer, but left it to the mercy of the pirates, who kept it near two months to clean their ships in. During which time a galley came in their way, which Davis took and gave to La Boufe according to his promise, and he presently mounted it with 24 guns; then calling a council, they agreed to fall down the coast together, appointing Davis commodore, they having now got a little fleet. But soon after getting drunk over a bowl of punch, they fell together by the ears. Afterwards the other two went away, each steering a different course.

Davis made for cape Apolonia, where he took 3 English vessels; and just after fell in with a Dutch interloper of 30 guns and 90 men, off Cape Three Points Bay, and took her, fitting her up for his own use, and called her the Rover. Then he failed with her, and the King James to Anamaboo, where he found 3 ships at anchor, trading for negroes, gold dust, and teeth, which he took without any reluctance. Having plundered them, he gave one of them, nam'd the Morice floop to the Dutchmen: on board of which they found 150 negroes, and a considerable quantity of gold dust. But several canoes lying there they made their escape, and gave notice to the fort that those ships were pirates: whereon the fort fired upon them, tho' without doing any damage, they being

THE HISTORY OF

being at too great a distance. Davis, after firing upon them,
hoisted his black flag in defiance, failing away with his three
ships, and made for princes a Portuguese colony.

Sometime after, Davis spied a fail, to which giving chase,
he soon came up with, and fired a broadside, which caused
her immediately to strike. This ship proved to be a Hol-
lander, and a very good prize, having the governor of Acra
aboard with all his riches; there being in money about
150,000. sterl. besides other valuable merchandizes; all
which he brought on board his own ship, and then returned
the Dutch ship to the governor, withing him a good voyage
to Holland. He likewise restored capt. Hall and capt Plumb
their ships again, first taking out of them 46 white men to
strengthen his own company.

Before he got to the illand of Princes the King James
sprung a leak; wherefore he left her at anchor at High
Camaroan, and hoisted English colours at his coming in. The
Portuguese seeing a large ship coming towards them, sent
out a small ship to examine who she was; to whom they re-
plied, she was an English man of war going in quest of
pirates. Thereupon they received him as a welcome guest,
piloting him into the harbour. Also the Portuguese sent
down a file of musqueters to receive and conduct him to the
governor's house when he landed, not in the least suspecting
who or what he was, and received him with a great deal of
civility, promising to supply him with whatever the illand
afforded if he wanted it. Davis returning aboard, and seeing
a French ship coming in with provisions, his fingers itched to
be at her; resolving therefore to plunder her, he persuaded
the Portuguese that she had been trading with the pirates,
and that he found several pirate's goods on board her.

Having cleared the ship in order to plunder the illand (the
bufines for which he came) he made a present to the governor
of a dozen negroes, in return for the civilities he had
received from him; also he invited him aboard his ship,
deigning to have bound him in irons, and make him pay
40,000. for his ransom. This had certainly been done, had
not a Portuguese negro boy swam ashore in the night, and
discovered the whole plot to the governor and also let him
know that it was Davis.

After this the governor received the pirate's invitation
civilly, promising that he and some friends would attend him.
Next day Davis went to invite the governor himself, taking
his principal pirates along with him; who were immediately
detired to walk up into the governor's house, he promised
to wait on them presently. But their going up proved fatal
to

to

THE PIRATES.

59

to them, they never came down again; for an ambuscado
was laid for them before hand, and a signal being given, a
whole volley offhot was fired upon them at once, and they
all dropped, except one, who escaped to the ship. Although
Davis was (hot thro' the bowels, yet he arose again striving
to get away but his strength soon forfaking him, he dropped
down dead. The fellow who escaped to the ship giving an
account of what had happened, the crew carried off the ship;
as will more fully appear in the life of Roberts next fol-
lowing.

Capt. ROBERTS, and his Crew.

BArtholomew Roberts left London in November 1719, and
went second mate on board the Princes. capt. Plumb,
commander, which arrived at. Guiney in February follow-
ing where, taking in slaves for the West Indies, he was taken
by

## THE HISTORY OF

by Howel Davis. At first he was very averse to piracy, but afterwards, he changed his mind, and what he did not like as a private man, he was fond of a commander. After Davis's death the ship crew, found themselves under a necessity of chusing another captain; upon which, after some debates. Roberts was choosen who willingly accepted thereof. After this they resolved to revenge Davis's death, he being well beloved among them; and in order to do it about 30 men were landed to make an attempt upon the fort, handed by one Kennedy, a bold daring fellow, who marched up directly, under the fire of the ship's guns, and went into the fort without opposition, the Portugeeze deferting it at their approach; which having fet on fire, and thrown all the guns in it down into the sea, they retreated to their ship, and not thinking this sufficient revenge for the lofs of their captain, would have burnt the town, had not Roberts prevented it.

The governor of Barbadoes and Martinico hearing that Roberts was on their coasts, sent a man of war in pursuit of him. This so provoked him, that he hoisted his own figure pourtrayed, standing upon two sculls, and underneath the letters A, B, H, and A. M. H. signifying thereby a Barbadens and a Martinicians head. At Dominico, the next island they touched at, they took a Dutch interloper of 19 guns, and 70 men, which made some defence till many of the men were killed, and then struck. With this prize he went down to Guardalupe, and took a French fly-boat laden with sugar. From thence he went to Monay, another island, thinking to clean, but finding the sea run too high for his design, he went to the North part of Hifpaniola, where in the gulf of Saminam, he cleaned the ship and the Brigantine.

Some time after, while they were drunk, Harry Glasby, a reserved sober man, matter of the Royal Fortune, having two more with him moved off without bidding them farewell; but being soon miffed, a detachment was presently sent after him, which brought him back with his companions, who were immediately brought to trial. When they were all ready, the captain in the chair, they were called up into the steerage, where a large bowl of rum punch was placed upon the table, pipes and tobacco being ready, the trial came on, and the indictment was read. The letter of the law of their own making, being strong against them, they were about to pronounce sentence; when, after taking the other cup, the prisoners pleaded for an arrest of judgment; but their crimes being so very great, the court would not admit of it.

Immediately

## THE PIRATES.

Immediately up starts Valentine Sturdyback, faying he had something to offer to the court in behalf of one of the prisoners, whom he fware he knew to be as honest a man as ever a one of them; his name was Glasby. By God, fays he, he shall not die, dame me if he do. Upon which he palled out a pistol presenting it to the breast of one of the judges, who seeing his argument so well supported, moved that Glasby might be acquitted, which they all agreed to, allowing it to be law. But the other prisoners were condemned, and all the favour shown them was, that the should chuse four out of the company to shoot them; which was done accordingly. Then burning their own ship, they manned Norton's brigantine, fending the matter away in a Dutch interloper not dissatisfied.

With the Royal Fortune and the brigantine, which they named the Good Fortune, they made towards Descada where they met with capt. Hall, richly laden for Jamaica, whom they plundered and carried to Bermudas. Then returning to the West Indies, they daily met with some prize or other, most French, which ftered them with plenty of provisions; after which they began to think of something worthy their aim, and accordingly proceeded again for the coast of Guiney, where they thought to buy gold duft very cheap. In their paflage they took many ships, some of which they burnt, and others they reftored, according as the matters pleamed or displeased them.

About 400 leagues from the coasts of Africa, the brigantine, in a dark night, left them. This brings me back to an accident that happened in the West Indies, which had like to have ruined all, and was the occasion of the brigantine's going off.

Capt. Roberts being insulted by John Pipple, he killed him on the spot; which was refented by many of the crew, particularly by one Ralph Brag, who died afterwards in the Marthalsea, he curling Roberts for killing his comrade, and faying, he ought to be served the fame faufe. Roberts hearing thereof, ran to him in his paflion with his sword in his hand, and run him into the body, who, notwithstanding his wound fell upon Roberts, and beat him to his heart's content, which put the whole ship's crew in an uproar, some being for the captain and others against him. However the tumult was at length appeased by the quarter matter; and as the majority were of opinion that the dignity of the captain ought to be suppoſed, especially on board, they sentenced Brag to receive two lashes from every one of the crew. But Brag being bent on revenge, he, with several of his com-

F

rade's;

62

THE HISTORY OF

rades, confired with Anftis, captain of the brigantine, who was also a malecontent on account of Robert's haughty carriage towards him. So in a little time, Brag and his conforts goes on board capt. Anftis on pretence of making him a visit, when, consulting with the crew, they found the majority were for leaving Roberts, and for giving a soft farewel (as they call it) that night; which they all did with one consent. But Roberts proceeded to windward, nigh Senegal, which is monopolized by the French, who keep cruisers to hinder the interloping trade: two of which having got fight of Roberts, and fuppoting him to be one of them, chafed with all the fail they could make to get up with him; but their hopes deceived them: for upon hoisting the jolly Roger, the name they gave the flag, their French hearts failed them, and they surrendered without refistance. With them he went to Sierralem, and called one of them Ranger, the other he made a floreship to clean by.

Afterwards he went to old Calabar to clean their ships, where they divided the fruits of their labours, and drank and drove care away. There they took capt. Lowe, and two or three briftol ships. But the negroes here did not prove so kind to them as they expected, refusing to trade with them after they knew they were pirates. This did but exacerbate the pirates, who sent 40 men afire under their cannon to drive the negroes into the woods, againft whom the negroes drew out a body of 2000 men; but having three or four men killed, they retired; on which the pirates set fire to the town, and then returned to their ships, with which they failed for Cape Lopez to water, and at Anna Bonna took aboard fresh provisions, and then failed to the coast again.

This was their last and fatal expedition. For falling down as low as Cape Lahon they took a ship called the King Solomon, and a trading vessel. They being to the leeward of the King Solomon at Cape Apollonia, and the wind and the current againft her, they sent their long boat with men to take her, which rowed to the King Solomon with a great deal of cheerfulness. Capt. Trahern prepared to receive them, firing at them as they came under his stern, which they returned with a volley. When he alked his men whether they would stand by him, laying it was a flame to lofe the company's ship without one blow. But Phillips, his boat夫wan, laying down his arms in the king's name, (as he called it) called out to the boat for quarters, by whose example all the rest surrendered, and they loft the ship.

The Swallow and Weymouth men of war left Sierralem the 27th of May, and, having received Mr Baldwin's letter,

went

THE PIRATES

63

went in pursuit of the pirates; and meeting with a Dutch ship, enquired of him if he had heard any thing of Roberts in those seas. He answered that he had just been at Cape Lopez, and had seen no ship there. However they beat up for the cape, and on the 5th at dawning, were surprized with the noise of a gun from Cape Lopez bay, where they discovered three ships at anchor, which they concluded was Roberts and his conforts: but the Swallow being to the windward was obliged to steer off, which the pirates interpreting fear, righted the French Ranger, ordering her to chace out in all haste. The Swallow, finding they had mistaken her design, kept off to sea, as it had really been afraid; on which, in a little time, the pirates drew near enough to fire their chace guns, hoisting their black flag, thinking her to be a Portugueze, when on a sudden they saw her bring too, and fire at a distance. Being now at their wit's end, their main top mast coming down by a flot, after two hours firing they grewick of the play, struck their colours, and called out for quarters, having 10 men killed and 20 wounded, without the loss of one of the king's men.

While the Swallow was sending her boats to fetch the prisoners, half a dozen of the most desperate thought to blow themfelves up, but having too small a quantity of powder left, it only burnt them in a frightful manner.

They secured the prisoners with shackles and pinions, but the ship was so difabled that they thought of fetting her on fire; but she having the wounded men on board, they repaired her rigging and fet her into Princes.

On the 9th the Swallow gained the cape again, and saw the Royal Fortune flounding into the bay, with the Neptune, Capt. Hill, of London. On the 10th the man of war bore away to round the cape. Robert's crew discerning their maſts over land, went out and told him; but he took no notice of it, and his men almoſt as little. At the Swallow approach'd higher, fome of them fware it was a man of war coming to take them all, at whom Roberts fwore, calling them a parcel of cowardly rafcals, but as he came nearer, being perfectly convinced, he flip'd his cable and got under fail, ordering his men to arms, fwearing it was a bite; but be it as it will, fays he, I will get clear or die.

Roberts in the engagement made a noble figure, dreſt in a rich crinifon damask waistcoat and britches, a red feather in his hat, a gold chain round neck, with a dimond crofs hanging to it, a fword in his hand, and two pair of piftols, according to the custom of pirates, flung over his shoulders, giving

his.

F 2

5

64 THE HISTORY OF

his orders with boldnefs. Receiving the fire he hoisted the
black flag. and returned it, shooting away from her: but the
wind shifting he was taken back with his fails, when the
Swallow coming again near him a shot took him directly in
the throat, otherwife it would have been a very bloody
battle.

Roberts was a tall man about 40. born at Neweybag, in
Pembrokehire, of good natural parts and parfonal bravery.
He was used to fay. A short life and a merry one shall be my
motto; but among all his vile actions he never forced any
into the service.

When Roberts was dead the men neglected all means of
defence; and their main malt being shot by the board, they
called for quarters. The Swallow kept aloof while the boat
paflled and repaflled for the prifoners, some of the desperadoes
swearing they would blow up the ship. She had 40 guns
and 160 men, 13 of whom were killed without any lofs to the
Swallow. There was found in her 2000l. in gold duft, be-
fides many other rich things,

After they were taken they had a mind to rebel, and form-
ed a conspiracy to kill the officers and run away with the
ship; but being discovered by a Mulatta boy who attended
them, those who had their fetters off had others put on
double; and it proved of no other service to them than to
find stronger confinement.

When they came to be lodged in Cape Corfo castle, their
hope of escaping being all over, and expecting nothing but a
speedy execution, many of them became very penitent. A
great many had entered on the coast of Africa not many
months before they were taken; from whence it is plain that
Robeats compelled none into his service, as was pretended
on their trial; he being heard to fay, that he would force no-
body to go but who were willing.

They being now to be brought to their trial, and there
being no lawyers in the country, the court eonflifted of capt.
Mungo Heardman, preſident; James Phips, general of the
coast; Mr. Dodfon, and Mr. Boye merchants; Mr. John
Barnſley, Lieutenant; C. Franſhaw, and Mr. Edward Hyde,
ſecretary to the company: Who being met in the hall of
the caſtle, proceeded to trial, when we find the lift ſtand as
follows. Acquitted 75. executed 52, reſpited 2, ſervitude 20,
to the Marhaſea 17, killed in the ranger 10, killed in the
Fortune 13, died in the paflage to cape Corfo 15, afterwards
in the caſtle 4, negroes in both ſhips 70. Total 268. The
first fix that were called to execution were Magens, Mood,
Sympion, Sutton, Ait plant, and Hardy, all old offenders,
when

THE PIRATES.

65

when they were taking off the fetters and fitting the halters,
none of them appeared the least dejected. A ſurgeon of a
ſhip offiſiated in the room of an ordinary, repreſentin g to
them the heinouſneſs of their fins, and the neceflity they lay
under, to call upon God for mercy. They ſaid what was
that to him, they ſuſfered the law, and ſhould give no ac-
count to any but God. So they died hardy as they call
it.

But there was others amongst them who employed their
time to better purpose, and behaved with a great deal of
ſeeming penitence and devotion; among whom were Scuda-
more, Armſtrong, Bunce, and ſome few others.—Scuda-
more too lately discovered the folly that had brought him
under ſentence of death, and that he might make the better
preparation for it, he petitioned for two or three days re-
prive, which was granted, which time he ſpent in praying,
ſeeming to have a deep ſent of his fins, particular of the fin
of piracy for which he was to die. At the gallows he beg-
ged they would have patience to let him ſing part of 51. Pſal.
which they did.—Armſtrong having been a deferter from
his majesty's ſervice, was hanged on board the Weymouth,
fadly bewailing and lamenting his fins in general, exhorting
the ſpectators to take warning by him; and then deſired
leave to ſing two or three verſes of the 140th Pſal, which
having done, he was at the firing of a gun, triced up to the
fore yard arm.—Bunce was a young man, not above 20
years old, but made the belt ſpeech of any at the gallows,
declaring againſt the gilded bait of riches, which made him
turn pirate, his youth not being able to reſift the temptation.
He was extremely affiſted for the injuries he had done to all
men, and begged God's forgi venneſs very earneſtly exhort-
ing the ſpectators to remember their creator in their youth,
that their minds might not be too ſoon corrupted; conclud-
ing, that he ſhould hang there like a beacon on a rock, to
warn mariners of danger.

F 3

Capt.

THE HISTORY OF

Capt. Anstis, and his crew.

THOMAS Anftis fhipp himself at Providence, in the year 1718, aboard the Buck floop and was one of the fix that confpired together to get off with the veſſel, with Howel Davis, Dennis Topping, Walter Kennedy, &c. I shall only obſerve that this combination was the beginning of capt. Roberts's company, which afterwards proved ſo formidable, from whom Anſtis ſeparated the 18th of Apr. 1721. leaving his commander to purfue his adventures on the coaſt of Guiney, while he returned to the West Indies, upon the fame defign.

About the middle of June he met with one capt. Maifton, between Hifpaniola and Jamaica bound to New York, from which he took all the wearing apparel, liquors, provifions, and fix men. Afterwards, he met with the Irivine, capt.

Rofe

THE PIRATES.

Rofs from Cork, on the coast of Martinico, which flup had colonel Doyly of Montferrat, and his family on board, and 600 barrels of beef. They abufed the colonel very much for endeavouring to fave a poor woman from their infult, twenty one or them lying with her one after another, and then they broke her back and flung her into the sea.

Afterwards they went into one of the iflands to clean, and thence proceeding towards Bermudas they met with a ſtout ship called the Morning Star, bound from Guiney to Carolina, which they kept for their own uſe. Just after they took a ship from Barbadoes bound to New England, from which taking her guns, they mounted the Morning Star with 22 pieces of cannon, and 100 men, appointing John Fenn captain; for Anſtis was ſo in love with his own veſſel, he being a good failor, he made it his choice to ſtay in her, and let Fenn have the other ship. Though they were now ſufficiently ſtrong, yet being moſt new men, they could not agree, but refolving to break up company, ſent a petition to his majesty by a merchant ship, expecting her return to Cuba.

Here they ſtaid about nine months, but not having provifions for above two, they were obliged to take what the ifland afforded: which is many ſort of filth, particularly turtle; though they eat not a bit of bread nor freih meat during their being on the ifland.

They pafled their time here in dancing and other diverfions agreeable to thofe forts of folk. Amongſt the reſt they appointed a mock court of judicature, to try one another for piracy, and he that was criminal one day was made a judge another. I ſhall never forget one of their trials, which for the curioſity of it I ſhall relate.—The judge got up into a tree, having a dirty tarpaulin over his shoulders for a robe, and a thrum cap upon his head, with a large pair of ſpectacles on his noſe, and a monkey bearing up his train, with abundance of officers attending him, with crows and hand spikes, inſtead of wands and tipſtaves, in their hands. Before whom the criminal being brought, making a thouſands wry faces, the attorney general moved the court, and ſaid, An't pleafe your lordship, and you gentlemen of the jury, this fellow before you is a ſad dog indeed, and I hope your lordship will order him to be hanged out of the way; he has committed piracy on the high seas. Nay, my lord, that's not all—this fellow, this ſad dog before you has out rid a hundred ſtorms, and you know my lord, he that is born to be hanged, will never be drowned. Nor is this all, he has been guilty of worſe villany than this, and that is drinking ſmall beer;

and

THE HISTORY OF

68

and your lordship knows, there never was a sober fellow but
what was a rogue. — My lord, I should have faid more,
but your lordship knows our rum is out, and how should a
man speak that has not drunk a dram to day.

Judge, Harkee me, firrah,—you ill lookt dog; what have
you to say why you may not be tuck'd up and fet a fun-
drying like a scare crow?—Are you guilty or not?

Prifoner, Not guilty, an't pleafe your worship.

Jud. Not guilty? Say so again and I will have you hang'd without any trial.

Pris. An't pleafe your worship's honour, my lord, I am as
honest a fellow as ever went between item and item of a
ship, and can hand, reef, fteer, and clap two ends of a rope
together as well as e'er a he that ever crofled salt water;
but I was taken by one George Bradley (the name of the
judge) a notorious pirate, and a fad rogue as ever was hang-
ed, and he forced me an't pleafe your honour.

Jud. Anfwer me, firrah; how will you be tried?

Pris. By God and my country.

Jud. The devil you will ! — Then gentlemen of the jury
we have nothing to do but proceed to judgment.

Attorney Gen. Right my lord; for it the tellow should
be suffered to fpeak he might clear himself; and that, you
know, is an affront to the court.

Pris. Pray my lord, I hope you will confider—

Jud. Confider ! How dare you talk of confidering ! —
Sirrah, firrah; I never confidered in all my life — I'll make
it treafon to confider,

Pris. But I hope your lordship will hear reafon.

Jud. What have we to do with reafon? — I would have
you to know, firrah, we do not fit here to hear reafon, we go
according to law.—Is our dinner ready?

Attorney-Gen. Yes, my lord.

Jud. I hen harkee, you rafcal at the bar, hear me, firrah,
hear me. You muft be hanged for three reafons, 1ft, Because
it is not fit that I should fit as judge and nobody be hanged,
adly, You muft be hanged, becaufe you have a damned
hanging look. 3dly, You muft be hanged, becaufe I'm
hungry. There is law for you, ye dog. Take him away,
goaler.

By this you may fee how thefe fellows can jeft on things
which should make them tremble.

August 1722, they made ready the brigantine, and came
out to fea, where meeting their correspondent returning and
finding nothing done, they agreed to play their old trade,
So they failed with the ship and brigantine to the southward,
where

THE PIRATES.

69

where they run the ship upon the Grand Carmanes, and
wrecked her. The next day Anftis went afhore, to fetch
the men off who were all fafe. Anftis had juft time to take
capt. Fen and a few others on board, before the Hector and
Adventure came down on him; but he got to fea, and one of
the men of war after him, keeping within gun shot, feveral
hours, when the wind dying away, the pirates got to their
oars and rowed for their lives.

The Hector landed her men, and took 40 of the Morning
Star's crew without any refistance, they pretending they
were glad of the opportunity. The reft hid themselves in
the woods.

The brigantine, after her eſcape failed to an island near the
bay of Honduras to clean and in her way took a floop, capt.
Durfey commander, which they deftroyed, but brought the
men on board. While she was cleaning, Durfey confpired
with ſome of the prifoners to carry off the brigantine; but it
being diſcovered, he and four or five more got aſhore with
arms an ammunition; and when the pirates canoke came in for
water, ſeized the boat and men; upon which Anftis ſent a-
nother boat with 20 hands aſhore but Durfey gave them ſuch
a warm reception that they were glad to return back again.

In December Anftis left this place. Taking in his cruife a
good ship, he mounted her with 25 guns, and made Fena
commander. Frotu hence they went to the Bahama Islands,
taking what they wanted.

As they were cleaning their ships the Winchelſea came
down upon them, when moſt of them eſcaped to the woods;
but Anftis having a light pair of heels eſcaped in the brigan-
tine. Afterwards, ſome of the company, being tired of this
trade, ſhot Anftis in his hammock, and put the reſt in irons,
and they carried the brigantine to Curracoa, a Dutch fettle-
ment, where they were hanged, and theſe who delivered the
veſſel acquitted. Fen was ſoon after taken by the men of
war's men flaggling in the woods, with a few more, and
carried to Antigua and hanged. But ſome eſcaped among
the negroes, and were never heard of lince.

Capt.

70

THE HISTORY OF

Capt. WORSLEY, and his Crew.

WORSLEY, with eight others, left New York in September. 1718, in a small open Boat, taking with them two or three dried tongues, and a cag of water, a dozen of old munkets, and a little ammunition, and steered down the coasts till they came to Delawar river; but meeting with nothing, they turned back as high as Newcastle, where they fell in with a fhallop that was bringing goods, plate, &c. from Oppequenimi to Philadelphia, which they took; but taking out the best of the lading, they let the fhallop go, which immediately brought news of it to Philadelphia, that so alarmed the country, that they fitted out several vessels to go in purfuit of them; but all to no purpose, for they could not find them.

Worfley

THE PIRATES.

71

Worfley going down the river, met with a floop of Philadelphia, which they took, and quitted their boat of her, taking two men of her along with them. A day or two after, they took a floop belonging to Hull, which was still more fit for their purpofe, having on board provisions and neceffaries, which they very much ftood in need of. And in all probability, the taking of this floop, for this time faued them; for the governor ſent the Phænix in purfuit of them, but they were now pretty well provided, ſtood off to ſea, and ſo miffed the Phænix, who expected them to be on the coaſt.

About fix weeks after they returned, having taken among the Bahama islands, a floop, and a brigantine, by the which they encreafed their number to twenty men, and had fix guns mounted, and ſmall arms equivalent. He made a ſmall enſign with death's head in the middle of it, and they all ſware to stand by one another to the laſt man. Afterwards going to an inlet in North Carolina, the governor had notice of them; and ſent two floops with about ſeventy men to take them, but they had failed away. However, the floops purfuing them, came in fight of Worfley, off the capes of Virginia, who ſtood in for the river, taking them for merchantmen. The floops ſtood in at the fame time, and Worfley hoifted his black flag, and gained the bay, thinking to make ſure of his two prizes. But he was quickly ſenſible of his miftake, as ſoon as they hoifted the king's colours, and firſed a gun; when he found himself hummed in, inſtead of his keeping them out. However they ſelvèd to fight it out, and neither to give nor take quarters, according to their oath.

The Carolina men gave the pirates a broad-fide and boarded him, one upon his quarter, and the other upon his bow. Worfley and his crew drew upon deck, and fought very obſtinately hand to hand, ſo that in a few minutes a-bundance of men lay weltering in their gore. Not one of the pirates cried out for quarters, nor would accept of it, when offered. They were all killed except the captain and another man, and they were very much wounded. They were both brought altho' e iron, and the very next day hanged, for fear they ſhould have died in their wounds.

Capt.

THE HISTORY OF

Capt. GEO. LOWTHER and his Crew.

GEORGE LOWTHER went second mate on board the Gambia Castle, belonging to the Royal African company on board which was capt. Maffey with soldiers, that he was to command under colonel Whitney, who were landed on James Island; but the fort and the гарifon not agreeing, the company soon after left a galley worth 1000 by it.

Maffey finding he must be overruled by the merchants soon began to complain of their ill treatment of his men in their allowance, saying, he did not come to be a Guiney slave, and that if they did not use him and his men better, he should take other measures.

At the same time there happened a dispute between the captain of the ship and Lowther, which very much contributed to Lowther's delign : for Lowther finding himself neg

leeted

THE PIRATES

lected by the captain. found means to ingratiate himself into the favour of the failors, who, upon the captain's going to punish him, frowe, They would knock down the first that lay hands on him: which Lowther improved to a general disaffection of the ship's crew. Maffey in the mean time, having contracted an intimacy with Lowther, they agreed to curb their enemies, and provide for themselves some other way; which the captain perceiving, he goes on shore to the governor and factor, to confult what methods to take; but Lowther apprehending it was againft him, he fent a letter in the fame boat to Maffey, adviling him to repair on board, to put their project in execution.

Upon which Maffey barangued the soldiers, faying, You that have a mind to return to England, may now do it; which they all agreed to: then he went to the governor's apartment, and took his bed, baggage, plate and furniture, believing the governor would go with him, which he refused: however Maffey came aboard with the governor's fon. After demolifhing all the guns of the fort, they weighed anchor, and fell down, but soon ran the ship aground; upon which Maffey returns to the fort, remounts the guns, and keeps гарifon till the ship got clear. In the mean time captain Ruffel got off, but was not suffered to come on board, although he offered Lowther what terms he pleafed. Next tide they got the ship afloat, having firft nailed up and difmounted all the cannon. Then putting the governor's fon afhore, they put out to fea, when Lowther called upon the men and told them, It was madneſs to think of returning to England, for what they had done, would be judged a capital offence; and therefore, ſince they had a good ship under them, he propofed to feek their fortunes, upon the feas, as others had done before them, which they all agreed to, calling the ship, The Deli-very, and fware to stand by one another.

Lowther left the fort the 13th of June, and on the 30th near Barbadoes, he came up with a brigantine belonging to Bolton, which he plundered, and then let her go. After this he proceeded to Hilpaniola, where he met with a French floop loaden with wine and brandy, on board which captain Maffey went, pretending at firſt to be a merchant; but finding her to be a ſhip of value, he told monfieur, He muſt have it all without money. On board her there was 30 casks of brandy, 5 hogheads of wine, ſeveral pieces of chints, and 70l. in money, all which they took, only Lowther returned the French after 5l. again,

But this good harmony did not last long amongst them, Maffey, was uneaſy, and resolved to leave them, which Low-ther

G

THE HISTORY OF

ther agreed to, giving him a floop he had just before taken,
to go where he thought fit. Accordingly he goes aboard,
with ten men, and comes in directly for Jamaica, where, put-
ting a bold face on the matter, he informs Sir Nicholas Laws,
the then governor, how he had left Lowther the pirate, and
of all that had been tranfacted before, adding, That he af-
fifted him at the river Gambia, only to fave fo many of his
Majefty's ſubjects, and return to England.

Maffey was well received, and at his own report, he was
fent on board the Happy Sloop, to cruise off Hifpaniola for
Lowther; but not meeting with him, he returned to Jamai-
ca, and getting a certificate he came home to England,
where, when he arrived, he writes to the African company,
relating the whole tranſaction of this voyage, but excufed it
as an inadverſity by his being ill uſed; for which, if they
would not forgive him, he begged to die like a ſoldier, and
not be hanged like a dog. This not producing ſo favourable
an anſwer as he expected, he went the next day to Lord chief
juſtice chambers; and enquired, if there had been ever a war-
rant granted againſt one capt. Maffey for piracy; but being
told, There was not, he faid. He was the man, and that the
African company would ſoon apply to my lord for one
which they did, he lodged in Alderſgate-ſtreet, where the
officer might at any time find him. This the clerk took down
in writing, and a warrant being ſoon granted, the tipſtaff
went accordingly, and took him without any trouble.

But fill there was no perſon to charge him, neither could
they prove the letter to be his own hand writing, till the juſ-
tice interrogate him, Whether he did write the letter or not;
which he readily conſeſled, as alſo gave an ample account of
the whole voyage, thereupon he was committed to Newgate,
though ſoon after he was admitted out upon bail.

July the 5th, 1723, he was tried at the Old Bailey, by a
court of Admiralty, when capt. Ruffel and others, appeared
againſt him; but he would have faſed them all that trouble,
for he conſeſt more than they knew, fixing the facts ſo firm
upon himſelf, that he was found guilty, received ſentence of
death, and was executed three weeks after at Execution
dock.

But to return to Lowther, whom Maffey left cruſing off
Hifpaniola, who plying to the windward, near Porto Rico,
took two ſail, one was a ſmall Briſtol ſhip, the other a Spaniſh
pirate, who had taken the Briſtol ſhip; which ſo provoked
Lowther, that he threatened to put the Spaniards to death,
for daring to intermeddle in his affairs; but at laſt he con-
tented himſelf with burning both their ſhips; and the Spani-

ards

THE PIRATES.

ards getting away in their launch, they thought they were
well off.

Afterwards he took a ſmall floop from St. Chriſtophers
which he manned, and carried off with him to an island, where
they cleaned, and thengoing aboard, they failed towards the
bay of Honduras, where they met with a ſmall veſſel with 13
lands, of the fame employment, under capt. Lowe, whom
Lowther received as friends, inviting them, as they were few
in number, to join their ſtrength together, which being ac-
cepted of, Lowther continued captain, and Lowe was made
lieutenant, burning his own ſhip. Then coming into the bay,
they fell upon a floop of 200 tons, called the Greyhound;
againſt whom Lowther fired his guns, and hoisted the pirati-
cal colours, which capt. Edward bravely returned; but at
length finding the pirate too ſtrong for him, he yielded and
the pirate came on board, and not only rilſing the ſhip, but
beat and cut the men in a cruel manner. In cruſing about the
bay, they took ſeveral other veſſels without any reſtance,
particularly a ſhip of 100 tons, which they mounted with 8
carriages and 10 ſwivels guns. With this fleet, Lowther in
the Happy Delivery, Lowe in the Rhode Island floop, Har-
ris in Hamilton's floop, left the bay, and came to Port Mayo,
where they made preparations to careen, carrying alſome all
their fails, to lay their plunder in; but when they were busy
at work, a body of the natives came down, and attacked the
pirates unprepared, who were glad to fly to their floops, and
leave them maſters of the field, leaving the Happy Delivery
behind them, contenting themſelves with the Ranger, which
had only 20 guns and 8 ſwivels, taking all the men on board
her, wherein they preſently began to quarrel laying the
blame one upon another. Being very much in want of pro-
vilions, they got to the Left Indies, May 1722, and near the
island Descada took a brigantine ſtored with provisions and
neceſſaries, which put them in better temper. Then they wa-
tered and ſtood to the northward, intending to visit the
north coast of America, and in lat. 38. they took the Rebec-
ca of Boſton, at which time the crews divided. Lowe with
44 hands went on board the brigantine, and Lowther with
the ſamenumber, ſtaid in the floop, ſeparating that very night,
being the 28th of May, 1722.

Lowther cruſed a pretty while among the iſlands to no
purpofe, till at length he fell in with a Martinico man, which
proved a ſeafonable relief he being in great want of pro-
vilions, and after that a Guiney man. After which they
thought it time to clean, in order to prepare for new adven-

G 2

tuſes,

THE HISTORY OF

tures; for which purpose they failed to the island of Blancho,
which is a low island, 30 leagues from the main of Spanith
America, where he unrigged his floop, fending his guns, rig-
ging, and fails afhore, and putting his vessel upon the carren.
But the Eagle floop of Barbadoes coming near this island,
and feeling her, fuppofing her to be a pirate, took the advan-
tage of attacking her when unprepared, who immediately
hoisted the St. George's flag at the top mast head, to bid
them defiance; but when they found the Eagle refolved to
board them in good earneft, the pirates cut their cable, and
hawled the stern afhore, which obliged the Eagle to come to
an anchor athwart the haufe, where they engaged them till
they cried out for quarters. At which time Lowther, with
twelve of his men, made their escape; but they took the
reft, and brought them to Camena, where the Spanith go-
vernor condemned the floop to the captors, and sent 23 hands
to scour the bushes of Blanco, when they took forty: but
could not find Lowther, three men and a little boy. Eleven
of them were hanged, and three of them acquitted. And
Captain Lowther, it is faid, afterwards shot himself, being
found dead, and a pistol burft by his fide.

Capt.

THE PIRATES.

Capt. EDWARD LOWE, and his Crew.

EDWARD Lowe was born at Westminfter, who very early began the trade of plundering; but if any child refused him what he had, he must fight him. When he grew bigger, he took to gaming among black-shoe boys upon the parade, with whom he ufed to play the whole game, as they call it: that is, cheat every body, which if they refused, they might fight him.

Ned went to fea with his eldest brother, and leaving him
in New England, he worked in a rigging houfe at Bofton,
for fome time, when not liking that, he returned to England
to fee his mother with whom he did not stay long before he
took his leave of her, for the laft time, as he faid, and retur-
ned to Bofton, where he flipped himfelf in a floop that was

bound.

78 THE HISTORY OF

bound to the bay of Honduras; and when he arrived there,
he was made patron of the boat, to bring the log-wood on
board to load the ship; where he differing with the captain
about the hurry of taking the log-wood on board, Lowe
takes up a loaden muleket and fired at him: then putting off
the boat, he with twelve of his companions, goes to sea.
Next day they met a small vessel, which they took, made a
black flag, and declared war against all the world. From
hence they proceeded to the island of the Grand Carmanes,
where he met with George Lowther, who took him under
his protection as an ally, without any formal treaty, which
Lowe readily agreed to; but parting with Lowther on the
28th of May, as we have already given an account in Low-
ther's life, Lowe took a vessel belonging to Amboy, which
he plundered, and then stood away to the S. E. by which he
avoided two floops, which the governor had sent to take him
from Rhode Island.

July the 12th, he failed into the harbour of Portofu-
ery, where he found 13 small vessels at anchor, whom he told
they should have no quarters; if they refitted; which so
frighted the matters of the vessels, that they all yielded. Out
of them he took whatever he wanted, keeping for his own
life a schooner of 80 tons, on board of which he put ten car-
riage guns, and fifty men, and named her the Fancy, mak-
ing himself captain and appointing Charles Harris captain of
the brigantine; making up a complement of 80 men out of
the vessels, some by force, and others by their own inclina-
tion, he failed away from Marblehead, and soon after he met
two floops bound for Boston, with provisions for the garr-
ison; but there being an officer and foldiers on board, he
thought it the safest way, after some small refinance, to let
them go on about their business.

Then they steered for the Leeward Islands, but in their
voyage met with such a hurricane as had not been known in
the memory of man. After the storm was over, they got safe
to one of the small islands of the Caribees, and there refit-
ted their vessels as well as they could. As soon as the bri-
gantine was ready, they took a short cruise leaving the schoo-
ner in the harbour till their return; which had not been many
days at sea, before she met a ship that had left all her malts,
on board of which they went, and took, in money, and goods,
to the value of 1000. Upon this success, the brigantine re-
turned to the schooner, which being then ready to fail, they
agreed to go to the Azores or Western islands, where Lowe
took a French ship of 32 guns, and in St. Michael's road, he
took several fails that were lying there, without firing a gun.

being

THE PIRATES.

79

Being in great want of water, he sent to the governor of St.
Michael's for a supply, promising upon that condition to re-
leave the ships that he had taken, otherwife to burn them
all; which the governor, for the fake of the ships, agreed to:
thereupon he released fix, keeping only the Rofepink, of
which he took the command.

The pirates took several of the guns out of the ships, and
mounted them on board the Rofe. Lowe ordered the
schooner to lie in the fare between St. Michael's and St. Ma-
ry's, where he met with Capt. Carter in the Wright galley;
who defending himself, they cut and mangled him and his
men in a barbarous manner; after which, they were for
burning the ship, but contented themselves with cutting her
cable, rigging, and fails to pieces, and so left her to the mer-
cy of the seas. From thence they failed to the island of Ma-
denas, where they took a fishing boat with two old men and
a boy in her, one of which they left ashore, demanding a
boat of water, otherwife they would kill the old man;
which being complied with, the old man was discharged.
From hence they failed to the Canaries, and thence conti-
nued their course for the Cape de Verde islands, where they
took a ship called the Liverpool Merchant, from which they
took 300 gallons of brandy, two guns and carriages, be-
fides six of her men, and then obliged them to go to the ile
of May. They also took two Portugueze ships bound to
Brazil, and three floops from St. Thomas's, bound to Cura-
fo: all which they plundered, and let them go, except one
floop by which they heard that two galleys were expected
at the western islands. Her they manned, and sent in quest
of these ships, whilst they careened the Rofe at Cape de
Verde; but the floop miving of the prey, was reduced to
great want of water and provisions, so that they ventured
to go ashore at St. Michael's and ports for traders where
being suspected by the governor, they were conducted into
the castle, and provided for as long as they lived.

Lowe's ship was overfet a careening, so that he was reduc-
ced to his old schooner, aboard of which there went about
an hundred as bold rogues as ever were hanged, and failed
to the West Indies, where they took a rich Portugueze ship,
bound home from Bahia, putting to the torture several of
the men, who confeft the captain flung into the sea, a bag of
1000 moidores. This made Lowe swear a thousand oaths;
and after cutting off his lips, he murdered him, and all his
crew, being thirty-six men.

After this they cruized to the northward, and took feve-
ral vessels, and then steered for the bay of Honduras, where
they

80 THE HISTORY OF

they took five English floops, and a pink, and a Spaniard of
6 guns and 70 men, whom they killed every man; which
being done they rumaged the Spanish ship, bringing all the
booty on board their own vessel.

In the next cruise between the Leeward Islands and the
main, they took two flows from Jamaica to Liverpool, and
just after a ship called the Amsterdam Merchant, the captain
thereof he flit his nole, cut his ears off, and then plundering
the ship, he let her go. Afterwards he took a floop to Am-
boy, of whose men he tied, lighted matches between the
fingers, which burnt the flesh off the bones, and afterwards
fet them aflore in an uninhabited part of the country, as also
other ships which fell a prey to those villains.

One of his majesty's men of war hearing of their barba-
rous actions, went in search of them, which was called the
Greyhound, of 20 guns, and 120 men, who feeing the pirates,
let them chace her at first, till she was in readiness to engage
them, and the pirates were about gun shot off, when she
tacked about and ftood towards them, who, when they
found who they had to deal with, edged away under the man
of war's fleet, making a running fight for about two hours;
but little wind happened, the pirate floop gained from her;
thereupon the Greyhound left off firing, and turned all her
hands to the oars, and came up with them, when the fight
was renewed, with a brisk fire on both fides, till the
Ranger's mainyard was shot down; upon which, the Grey-
hound preffed close; Lowe, in the other, bore away and left
his comfort; who feeing the cowardice of his commodore,
and that there was no poſſibility of eſcaping, called out for
quarters.

Lowe's conduct, in this engagement, shewed him to be a
cowardly villain for bad he fought half so briskly as Harris,
the man of war could never have taken either of them. The
Greyhound carried in her prize to Rhode Island, which was
looked upon to be of such signal service to the colony, that,
in council, they resolved to compliment Peter Slugard
captain, with their freedom of their corporation, they incur-
ed the prifoners under a strong guard in goal, till a court of
vice admiralty could be held for their trials, which was on
the 10th of July, at Newport, holding three days. The
Judges were, William Drummer, Esq.; lieutenant governor
of the Maſſachuſets, president; Nathaniel Payne, Esq.; John
Lechmore, Esq.; ſurveyor general; John Valentine, Esq.;
advocate general; Samuel Cranfton, governor of Rhode
Island; John Menzies, Esq.; judge of the admiralty;
Richard Ward, Esq.; regifter; and Mr Jahleet Brinton,
provoſt

THE PIRATES.

8t

provoſt marſhal. Robert Auchmuta Esq; was appointed
by the court, council for the prifoners here under mention-
ed.

Charles Harris, captain: William Blads, Daniel Hyde, Thomas Powel, jun. Stephen Munden, Thomas Hugger, Will. Read, Peter Kneeves, James Brinkley, Joseph Sound, William Shutfield, Edward Eaton, John Brown, Edward Lawfon, Owen Rice, John Tomkins, John Fitzgerald, Abraham Lacy, Tho. Linefter, Francis Leyton, J. Waters, quarter maſter, William Jones, Charles Church, Thomas Hazel, and J. Bright, who were all executed the 19th of July 1723, near Newport in Rhode Island, But John Brown, and Patrick Cunningham, were recommended to mercy.

The eight following were found not guilty, John Wilſon,
Henry Barnes, Tho. Jones, Joseph Switzer, I. homas Mum-
per, Indian, John Hencher, doct or, John Fletcher, and
Thomas Child.

Inſtead of working repentance in Lowe, this deliverance
made him ten times worse, vowing revenge upon all they
ſhould meet with for the future, which they executed upon
Nathan Skiff, maſter of a whale ﬁshing floop whom they
whipped naked about the deck, and then cut off his ears,
making his torture their ſport. At length being wearied
thereof, they thot him thro' the head, and funk his veſſel.
Some days after he took a ﬁshing boat of Block Island, and
only cur off the maſter's head; but next day taking two
whale boats near Rhode Island, he ript up one of the
maſter's bodies, and cut off the ears of the other. From
hence he went to Newfoundland, where he took twenty three
French veſſels, and manned one of them 22 guns, with
pirates, after which they took and plundered eighteen ships,
home of which they deſtroyed.

The latter end of July, Lowe took a large ship, called the
Merry Christmas, and mounted her with 34 guns, on which
he goes aboard, taking the title of admiral, and fails to the
weslern Islands, where he took a brigantine manned with
Engliſh and Portuguezc, the latter of which he hanged.

Afterwards Lowe went to the coast of Guiney, but noth-
ing happened till he came to Sierraleon in Africa, when he
met with the Delight, which he took, mounting her with 16
guns, and 60 men, appointing Sprigs captain, who two days
after separated himself from her.

In January after he took a ship called the Squirrel; but
what came of him afterwards we cannot tell.

Capt.

82

THE HISTORY OF

Capt. JOHN EVANS, and his crew.

JOHN Evans was a Welshman and formerly been master of a ship belonging to Nevis; but lofing his employ, he went out a mate of a ship from Jamaica, when getting acquainted with two or three of his comrades, they agreed to go aboard a canoe, and coming on the north-fide of the island, went afhore in the night, broke open a house, and robbed them; but this would not do, they wanted a vessel, which in a few days they got; for at Dunfloole they found a small floop at anchor, belonging to Bermudas, on board of which they went, Evans telling the people he was the master of her; which was more than they knew before. Then putting his affairs in order, he went afhore to a little village to refresh himself with his comrades, where he spent three pi floles,

THE PIRATES.

83

piftoles, and went away, the landlady returned him a thouf- and thanks, faying, She hoped to fee him again very soon; to which they anſwered, She would: though it proved very much to her damage; for they returned in the night, riſed the house, and carried what they could on board the floop.

The next day they mounted four guns on board the floop, calling her the Scowrar; and then they failed to Hifpaniola, where they took a Spanilſh floop, out of which they ſhared 150l. a man. After that they met with a ſhip bound from New England to Jamaica, which they plundered and took two or three hands. And next they took the Lucretia and Katherine, near the illand of Descada, January the 17th, when ſome of them were for puniſhing the poor captives; which Evans over hearing, ſware, What have we to do turn reformers? It is money we want. After this they went to the little illand of Avis, with a design to clean; but meeting with a floop, the pirate gave chace to her, but fearing to lofe the Lucretia, which was a heavy filler, they were brought to the leeward, ſo that they ſteered for the illand of Ruby. Soon after a Dutch ſhip running in upon them, they could not forbear ſpeaking to her, out of which they ſhared fifty pound a man, which finding to be a floop more proper for their purpofe, they kept her, and let the Lucretia go. But fearing a discovery here, they ſteered next to the Grand Carmanes, i.tending to clean there, though they were pre- vented by a difference that happened between the captain and boatſwain, who was a furly ill looked fellow; he having received ſome reproofs from the captain challenged to fight him on shore; but when the captain propofed the duel, the boatſwain refuſed to go afhore. Thereupon Evans took his cane and gave him a hearty drubbing; upon which the boat- ſwain ſhot Evans thro' the head. This ſo provoked all the crew, they resolved that the criminal should die by the moſt exquifite tortures; though while they were contidering of the puniſhment, the gunner ſhot him through the body; but that not killing him, he defined only a week for repentance; when another ſware, He ſhould repent and be damn'd to him; and without more ad ſhot him thro' the head.

Upon this they agreed to break up the company, and go-
ing afhore at the Carmanes, they shared about nine thouſand
pounds amongst 30 of them, ſending the mate and a boy,
who would not take on with them, with the ſhip to Port
Royal in Jamaica.

Capt.

84

THE HISTORY OF

Capt. JOHN PHILIPS and his Crew.

John Philips was bred a carpenter, but failing in a weft country ship to Newfoundland, was taken by Anftis, who soon perfuaded him to join with him, making him carpenter of the vessel, in which station he continued till they broke up at Tobago, and came home in a floop that was funk in Bristol channel. But he did not stay long in England, for hearing of some of his companions being taken in Bristol goal, he moved off to Topham, and there shipped himself with one captain. Wadham for Newfoundland, where when the ship came, he ran away and hired himself a splitter in the fishery for the season; but he soon combined with others in the fishery to go off with one of the vessels that lay in the harbour, and turn pirates; who accordingly fixed upon the

29th

THE PIRATES 85

29th of August, 1713. at night; but of sixteen men that promised, five only were as good as their words. Notwithstanding Philips was for pushing on, affuring them, that they should soon increase their company. Hereupon they seized a vessel and went out to sea, when they soon began to settle their officers to prevent dispute; appointed John Philips, captain; John Nutt, navigator of the Vessel; James Sparks, gunner; Tho. Fern, carpenter; and William White was on- ly a private man among them.

Before they left the banks they took several small fishing vessels, out of which they took some more hands, and then failed to the West Indies. Amongst those that were taken, was one John Rose Archer, who having been a pirate under Blackbeard, was made quarter master to the company. They came off of Barbadoes in October, and cruised about the islands about three months, without meeting with a vessel, so that they were almost starved for want of provisions, when at length they fell in with a Martinico man, of 12 guns and 35 hands; upon which they hoisted the black flag, and ran up along side of the floop, with piratical colours, flying, wearing, if they did not strike immediately, they must expect no quarters; which so affrighted the Frenchman that he never fired a gun. Having got this supply, they took their provisions, and four of her men.

Having occasion to clean their vessel, Philips proposed Tobago; and just as they had done, a man of war's boat came into the harbour, the ship cruising to the leeward of the island; which was no sooner gone but they warped out, and plied to the windward for safety.

In a few days they took a snow with a few hands in it; on board of which, they sent Fern the carpenter, William Smith Philips Wood, and Taylor; but Fern being diffatised at Archer's being preferred before him to be quarter-master, perfuaded the crew to go off with the prize; but Philips gave them chase, and coming up with them, shot Wood, and wounded Taylor in the leg; upon which the other two surrendered.

From Tobago they fled away to the northward, and took a portuguese ship bound for Brazil, and two or three floops for Jamaica, in one of which Fern endeavouring to get off, was killed by Philips, as was also another man for the like attempt, which made all the others more fearful of discovering their minds, dreading the villany of a few hardened wretches, who feared neither God nor devil, as Philips was often uled blasphemously to fay.

On the 25th of March they took two ships from Virginia,

the

H

THE HISTORY OF

the mafter's name of one was John Phillips the pirate's name
fake; of the other, Robert Mortimer's a flout young man.
Phillips flaid on board Mortimer's ship, while they transport
ed the crew to the floop, when Mortimer took up a hand-
spike, and ftruck Philip's o'er the head, but knocking him
down, he recovered and wounded Mortimer with his fword;
and the other two pirates who were on board, coming to
Philip's afflirtance, they cut Mortimer to pieces, while his
own two men ftood and looked on. Out of the other Vir-
ginia man, they took Edward Cheefeman, a carpenter, to
fupply the place of Fern, who being averfe to that way of
life, propofed to J. Filamore who was ordered to row Cheefe-
man on board Mortimer's ship, to overthrow their piratical
government, which from time to time, as occafion offered,
they confulted how to do. The pirates, in the mean time,
robbed and plundered feveral flips and veffels, bending their
course towards Newfoundland, where they deligned to raife
more men, and do all the mifchief they could on the banks,
and in the harbours. Towards which country Philips mak-
ing his way, took one Salter in a floop on the ile of Sables,
which he kept and gave Mortimer's ship to the mate and
crew: alio a fchooner, one Chadwell, mafter; which they
feuttled in order to link; but Philips understanding that the
belonged to Mr Menors of Newfoundland, with whose veffel
they firft went off a pirating faid, We have done him injury
enough already; and fo ordering his veſiel to be repaired,
returned her to the mafter.

In the afternoon they chaced another veſſel, whose mafter
was an inward lightman, named Dependance Ellery, who
told Philips he took him for a pirate as soon as he saw him,
otherwife he would not have given him the trouble of chat-
ing him fo long. This ſo provoked Philips, and his crew,
that they made poſt Dependance, for his integrity dance a-
bout the ſhip till he was weary. After which they took ten
other ſips and veſſels; and on the 24th of April they took
a floop belonging to Cape Anne. Andrew Harridane, mafter,
which looking upon to be no re fit for that purpofe, they
came on board, keeping only the matter of her prifoner, and
fending the crew away in Salter's veſſel. Cheefeman broke
his mind to Harridane, to deſtroy the crew. Upon this, it
was concluded to be at twelve o'clock at noon when
Cheefeman leaves his working tools on the deck, as if he had
been going to uſe them, and walks off; but perceiving ſome
ſigns of fear in Harridine, he fetches his brandy bottles, and
gives him and the reſt a dam, laying. Here's to our next
meeting: than he talks to Nutt: in the mean while Filamore

takes

THE PIRATES.

takes up an ax, while Cheefeman and Harradine Seizes
Nutt by the collar, and toffes him over the fide of the
veſſel.

By this time the boatſwain was dead: for as soon as Fi-
lamore faw the mafter laid hold on, he up with the ax, and
cut of the boatſwain's head, which noife ſoon brought the
cap ain upon deck, whom Cheefe nan faluted with the blow
of a mallet which broke his jawbone, but did not knock him
down: upon which Harradine came to the carpenter's aid,
when sparks the gunner interpoling, Cheefeman trips up his
heels, and flung him into the arms of Charles Ivemay, who
that moment threw him into the fea; and at the fame time
Harradine threw the capt. Phillips after him, bidding the
devil toke them both. This done Cheefeman jumps from
the deck into the hold, to knock Archer on the head, when
Harry Gyles came down after him, defired his life, might be
fpared, which being agreed to, he was made a prifoner and
secured.

All being over, they altered their course from Newfound-
land to Bofton, where they arrived the 3d of May to the
great joy of the province, and on the 12th of May a ſpecial
court of admiralty was held for the trial of thefe pirates,
when John Filamore, Edward Cheefeman John Cobs,
Henry Gyles, Charles Ivemay, John Bootman and Henry
Payne, were honourably acquitted as alio three French-
men. John Baptis, Peter Tafhery, and Isaac Laffen; as alio
three negroes, Pedro, Françoisco and Pierro; John Rofe
Archer, the quarter-mafter, William White, William Tay-
lor, and William Phillips were condemned. The two latter
got a reprieve, and the two former, Archer and White, were
executed the 2d of June following.

H

Capt.

38 THE HISTORY OF

Capt. SPRIGGS, and his Crew.

SPRIGG's failed at first with Lowe, and came away with him from Lowther. Afterwards Lowe took a ship of 12 guns on the coast of Guiney, called the Delight, which Spriggs went on board of, with 20 men, and leaving Lowe in the night, came to the West Indies. In their passage they made a black enflign, with a skeleton in the middle of it, holding a dart in one hand, striking a bleeding heart, and in the other an hour glafs, which they called the Jolly Roger, and being hoisted they fired all their guns to falute Spriggs, whom they chose captain, and then went to look out for prey.

In

THE PIRATES.

89

In their voyage they took a Portuguese bark, wherein they had rich plunder. Near St. Lucia they took a floop belonging to Barbadoes, which they first plundered and burnt, forcing some of the men into their service, and beating them in a barbarous manner, thofe that refuted to join with them, and afterwards sent them away in the boat half dead with their wounds; the rest got to Barbadoes with much ado, though some of them died foon after of their cuts and flathes. After this they took a Martinico man, which they uled in like manner, but did not burn the ship. Then running down to the leeward, they took one capt. Hawkins coming from Jamaica, loaded with logwood; out of which they took her flores, arms, and ammunition, and what they did not want they threw overboard; they cut the cables to pieces, knocked down the cabins, broke the windows, and did what mid chief they could taking Burridge and stephens two mates, and fome other hands by force; and after keeping her a week they let her go. On the 27th they took a Rhode island floop, compelling the captain and all his men to go on board the pirate. One of them not being willing to stay with them, they told him he should have a discharge prefently, which was to receive ten laihes from every man on board.

The next day Burridge signed their articles which pleased them so much they fired all their guns, and made him matter, spending that day in rejoicing.

The night of April they spied a fail, and gave her chase all night, believing the had been a Spaniard, but when he came up to her, and gave her a broadlide; she cried out for quarters, which made them cease firing, and ordered the captain to come aboard, who proved to be capt. Hawkins, whom they had difmiffed three days before, not worth a groat. Two days after they anchored at Rattan, not far from Honduras, and put anore capt. Hawkins and feveral others, giving them powder and ball, and a mutket and then left them to shift as well as they could: here they flaid three weeks, when two men came in a canoe, that had been left in another maroon island near Beneca, and carried them thither. A fortnight after, they elpied a floop at fea, which had lately escaped from the Spaniards at the bay of Honduras, which, upon a fignal, flood in and took them all off.

At an island to the Westward the pirates cleaned their ship, and then failed towards St. Christophers to meet capt. Moor.

H 3

Spriggs

THE HISTORY OF

Spriggs next ftood towards Bermudas, where he took a
fchooner belonging to Bolton, from which he took all the
men and funk the vessel.

Instead of going to Newfoundland they came back to the
islands; and on the 8th of June, to the windward of St.
Christophers they took a loop Nicholas Tro; after, be-
longing to St. Eustatia, whole men they hoisted as high as
the main fore tops, and so let them fall down again; then
whipping them about the deck, they gave Tro his loop, and
let him go. Two or three days after, they took a ship com-
ing from Rhode island to St. Christopher, loaden with pro-
vitions and fome horfes, and burnt ship, men, and horfes :
lince which Spriggs has not been heard of, though it was
fuppofed he went to Madagascar to spend in rioting and
wantonnefs his ill gottcn plunder; till by a letter from
Jamaica, of the 2d of March laft, we underftood that he has
been again at the bay of Ilonduras, and taken fixteen fail.

Capt.

THE PIRATES.

Capt. JOHN Gow, alias Smith, and
his Crew.

JOHN Gow, alias Smith, was born at a place called Ca-
rittoun in the Orkney islands, and was brought up a failor
from his youth, having served on board several men of war,
and laft of all on board the Suffolk, along with T. Swan,
who was engaged with him in the conspiracy to murder capt.
Ferneau and fecize the ship and cargoe, as they went out of
the Taxel, but they were prevented by James Belvin, who
was let into the secret and discovered it. Capt. Fernea tak-
ing little notice of it, contented himself withturning off Swan,
and preferred Gow to be fecond mate and gunner.

They

92 THE HISTORY OF

They failed on board the George Galley, Aug. 1, 1724, from the Taxel to Santa Cruz, having 1500cl. on board, when Gow designed to have feized the ship as they went out, but could not get a party strong enough to join with him, till he worked up a misunderstanding between the captain and part of the crew, concerning the provisions of the ship, particularly Winter, Paterfon, and M'Cawley, who came upon the quarter deck, in the presence of the owners, just before they failed, and made a long complaint against the captain; who affured them, that if there was any wrong done them it was not by his consent and that he would enquire into it as soon as they had unmoored the ship.

About eight o'clock at night, Cap. Ferneau, as usual, called them up to prayers in the great cabin, and then fet the watch and went to sleep, little thinking his end was to near; when Winter, Melvin, and Rawlinson, began the scene of blood. Gow lying fang in his hammock, as if he knew nothing of the matter, till he saw whether the villany would succeed or not. Winter cut the Doctor's throat as he was asleep in his hammock, and then went up to Rawlinson and Melvin, who, in the mean time, had feized the captain, and cut his throat alfo; but not touching the wind pipe, Gow stept up and shot him with a brace of bullets, and threw him over board. M'Cawley cut Stephen Algiers's (the clark) throat, as he lay in his hammock and Williams shot him dead afterwards. Paterfon cut the throat of Bonaventure Jelphys, (the chief mate), and Michael Moore, at the command of Williams shot him.

After this, Williams came upon the quarter deck, and faluted Gow with captain Ferneau's word, first striking it upon one of the guns, laying, Welcome capt. Gow, welcome to your new command. After which Gow told the men, that if any of them durst murmur or cabal together, they must expect to meet with the fame fate. And then calling a council, they agreed to go upon the account as they called it.

They called the ship the Revenge, and mounted six more of her guns, the being able to carry four and twenty in all. But instead of going to Genoa as intended, they failed for the coasts of Spain and Portugal, in hopes of getting a ship loaded with wine to keep up their spirits, but all was alike they met with, and instead of wine, they contented themfelves with fifth, which they took out of a ship called the Delight, of Poole, Thomas Wife mafter, bound, from New England to Cadiz, out of which they took the men and what they wanted,

93 THE PIRATES.

wanted, and fuaik the ship, to prevent their being discovered to the English men of war who lay in the Streights.

On the 18th of December, they took the Snow Galley, out of which crew they kept Robert and discharged the captain and the rest of the men, after having plu dered the ship of the arms, ammunition, cloth provisions, fails, anchors, cables, and then let her go.

By this time they had got a great way to the southward; and being in want of water as well as wine, they agreed to go to Madeira, which island they made in two days, cruising about it near a week, expecting some vessel to come in or out; but the country discovering what they were, they were disappointed in their attempts. Then they found away from Porto Santo, where they put up British colours, and sent their boat on shore, with a compliment to the governor, defiring leave to water, and buy some refreshment, which he readily agreed to, and went with them to pay the English captain a visit, who received him in a very grand manner. But the refresher not coming so soon as expected he at length told him, that he was his prisoner and must remain so till the provisions were come on board which was not till next day, when Gow discharged him giving three cerons of bees wax and three guns at his going away.

Having now got provisions, they agreed to return to the coasts of Spain and Portugal; where they had not been above two days; before they met with the Batchelor, Benjamin Crofs, mafter, from New England bound to Cadiz; out of which they took Crofs and his men, and gave the ship to Capt. Wife, and also twenty four cerons, of bees wax to him and his mate, and to his four men eight cerons. After this they took a French ship from Cadiz loaded with wine, oil, and fruit; which was what they wanted, and manned her with their own men, taking on board the Revenge the French mafter and his twelve men, and most part of the cargo, with five guns and their carriages, ammunition, small arms, and fails and gave the ship to Somerville, captain of the Snow Galley, and to Capt. Crofs the New England man; to each of whom they gave half the ship and cargo, and Somerville had all his men, but Alexander Rob, whom they detained, and who was executed, in the year 1725, for engaging along with them.

Soon after they saw a large ship to the windward bearing down upon them, which at first they thought to have been a Portuguese man of war; but they found afterwards it was a French merchant ship coming home from the West Indies, which not fearing them came to the windward Gow perceiving

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94

ing she was a ship of great strength, called all his men together
telling them, that they had a great many prisoners on board,
and that he could not trust many of his own men, befides,
tix of his belt hands were on board the other ship; there-
fore he advifed them not to meddle with her, ſhe being far
superior in force. This ſo exasperated Williams, that he
demanded of Gow to give his orders for fighting; but he,
by the advice of the whole crew, declined it; whereupon
Williams ſnapt his piftol at his face, which not going off
made him ſtill madder. Winter and Paterſon standing by
him, fired each a piftol at Williams, one shooting him thro'
the arm, and the other in the belly, at which he ſell; and
they believing he was killed, were going to throw him over
board, when he leaped up, and ran into the powder room,
with his piftol cocked in his hand, ſwearing he would blow
them all up: which he had certainly done, had they not
preve ted him that very moment, he having opened the ſcut-
tle to do it. They immediately put him in irons, and hand-
cuffed him, and then put him between decks in a place pre-
pared for prisoners.

Two days after this they took the Triumvirate, a Briftol
floor, Joel Davis, after, bound for Newfoundland to Oporto
with fifth; from which they took all their provisions, fails,
arms, and two of her men, and then let her go with her rett,
and all her cargo. Not knowing what to do with Williams,
they resolved to put him on board of them, and ſend him
away for fear of further danger ordering the matter to put
him on board the first English man of war he should meet
with, to hang him for piracy; which when Williams found
they were resolved to do, he made all the submiffion he was
able to captain Gow, begging for pardon, knowing if he was
carried to Lifbon he should meet with his deferts. But all
his entreaties would not do, he was brought up double fetter-
ed; when he begged they would throw him into the sea and
drown him, rather than give him up to be hanged in chains;
which he knew he deferved from the Portugueze as well as
the English. This made many of them begin to relent and
pity him: but confidering his favage dipouſition, they knew
there was no safety to keep him on board, they resolved to
let him go, giving him a hearty curſe at parting, and wiling
him a fave voyage to the gallows; not dreaming that they
themselves should accompany him.

The Britol captain obeyed their orders, and as soon as he
came to Lifbon put him on board the Argyle man of war,
captain Bowler commander, who brought him home, not
above

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95

above three days before Gow and his crew came to keep him
company.

In the middle of January, they arrived at Cariftoun, in the
files of Orkney; when Gow gave them instructions what ac-
count they ſhould give of themſelves to the people of the
country to avoid ſuspicion. But now began their misfortunes,
for ſeveral of their men began to think of making their e-
ſcape. The first was one Reid, who took an opportunity
to get away when the boat went afire, and going to a farm
houſe which lay under a hill, he hired a porſe and rode to
Kirkwell, a market town about twelve miles off, where he
informes them what they were; whereupon they railed the
country to defend themſelves. The pirates soon hearing
what was done, ten more of them went away with the long
boat, making the belt of their way for Scotland, who were
fome time after taken in the Firth of Edinburgh, and there
made prisoners.

This ſo provoked Gow, that he resolved to plunder the
country, be the conſequence what it would; and in order
thereto, he ſent Melvin, his boatſwain, with Rob and four
more, to Mr. Honeywood's house (the ſheriff:) who not be-
ing at home, the ſervants let them in, not ſuspecting their
delight.

They immediately fell to work, but Mr Honeywood's
daughter had the prefence of mind to hide the money in a
tub of feathers till the found an opportunity to carry it away,
by the contivance of Alexander Rob, who was centinel at
the door; but when the boatſwain found the treſure was
gone, (Gow having before told them where it lay) he ſwore
he would burn the house and all that was in it; which the
young lady overhearing, the boys to the charter room
where the papers lay, and threw them out of the window,
jumping heriſelf after. However they plundered the house
of about fifty pounds and ſome plate, and then forced a ſen-
vant who played on the bagpipes to play before them to the
ship, whom they also detained, and who was brought along
with them to the Marſhellea where he was ſick till his re-
ſtatement.

The next day they weighed anchor, and came to Calf
Sound, where the boatſwain went on board again with four
armed men; but meeting with no plunder, the carried off
two young women, whom they ravilhed, and kept to or
three days and then let them go: who when they came
home, found the old woman their mother dead by the blow
of a piftol, the begging they would not take away her
daughters.

From

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96

From thence they went to the island of Fda, to plunder the house of Mr Fea, whom Gow had formerly been school-fellow with, and knowing him to be a man of courage believing that the alarm at Cariftoun had drawn him thither: but Mr Fea's wife at that time being very fick in bed, kept him at home, and having notice of them, he sent a letter to Gow by James Laing, defiring him to withdraw, affuring him, that moft of the inhabitants were fled to the mountains on the report of his being a pirate; defiring him, to fend the meſſenger safe back at whose return the affright of the people would be over.

Gow lent him word back, that he would write to nobody, but if Mr Fea would lend his men with a boat, he would re-ward him handfomely, which Mr Fea hearing, ordered his great boat to be flaved and funk and the fails to be carried out of fight. In the mean time, perceiving Gow's boat come afhore, with five men armed in it, he met them, and said, if they would go to a public house in the neigbourhood, and take a cup of ale with him, he would fee what he could do to serve them: which they agreed to, feeing Mr Fea was all alone, not suspecting any danger. Mr Fea had before given orders for half a dozen of men, well arm'd, to lay in ambush to furprife them: which being done, Mr Fea lent to Gow to let him know that the country was alarmed, and that it would be his best way peaceably to surrender; which Gow accordingly did in a day or two, thinking thereby to make himſelf evidence; but it would not do, altho' he complied ſo far as to delude all his men on ſhore one after another, who would certainly have cut his throat had they known any ways afterwards to have efcaped.

They were put on board they Greyhound which deliver-
ed them into the Marhalfea, March 30. 1725, where they
continued till June following, when eight of them were hang-
ed at Execution Dock. William Ingram was hanged for
piracy under Anſtis, and a month afterwards Alexander Rob
was hanged for piracy under Gow.

N. B. By the Mary and Elizabeth, newly arrived from
Bofton, there is advice, that Spriggs the notorious pirate, be-
fore mentioned; was attacked in the Bay of Honduras, by a
spanish man of war, and that Spriggs himſelf was killed, and
his ship taken.

The

THE PIRATES.

97

The Life of John Upton, al. Hopton,
a Pirate.

JOHN Upton was born at Deptford in the county of Kent.
He was defcended from very honest parents, who gave
him good education in refpect to reading and writing, to
qualify him for buſineſs, and inſtructed him in moral and re-
ligious principles. He was put apprentice to a waterman
who worked on the river Thames, and having ſerved his time
faithfully and honefly, and not being able to purchase a boat
to work for himſelf, he went to fea and ſerved for 28 years,
for the moſt part in men of war, commonly in the ſtation of
a boatfwain or quarter maſter. He was a house keeper
many

I

93 THE HISTORY OF

many years, and lived in good repute among his neighbours,
but his wife dying, and leaving four children behind her un-
able to provide for themfelves, he supported them in the beft
manner he could, but his wife having contracted several debts
unknown to him, and five actions being taken out againſt him,
he was feized with ſurprife upon theſe diſcoveries. The
tear of imprisonment, and the conſequences of lying in a
goal, where he muſt have inevitably perſhed, hurried him
into a precipitate ſlight, leaving his children to the care of
the parifh.

On the 12th of July, 1723, he failed from Poole, in Dorset-
shire, being made boatswain of the Jofeph and Elifabeth
merchantman, captain Hooper commander, bound for Bona-
villa, in Newfoundland. When he arrived there he was dif-
charged by mutual consent, and being thus at liberty, he
contracted with William Knight, a planter there, to ſerve
him a twelvemonth in fishing and furring: and this agree-
ment he punctually fulfilled.

The year being expired, he obtained his discharge Aug.
31, 1724, and went paſſenger in a floop to Bolton, in New
England, and after ſome time he ſhipped himſelf on board
the merchantment, John Kent maſter, bound for the Bay of
Honduras, but returning to New England, he was there dif-
charged.

In July, 1725, he ſhipt himſelf aboard the Perry Gally,
Story King commander, for Barbadoes and Briftol, in the
ſtation of boatſwain. At Barbadoes the ſhip was delivered
and laden again, and then they intended to fail for England.
Upton deſired the captain to diſcharge him, that he might go
on board his majety's ſhip the Lynn, commanded by capt.
Cooper but as he contracted for the voyage to England, he
met with a flat denial.

November 9, 1725, they failed from Barbadoes for Eng-
land, and on the 12th of the fame month, they met with a
pirate floop off St. Dominique, called the Night Rambler,
who commanded them to hoist out their boat, and ordered
the captain and mate to come on board them, which they
did accordingly. The pirates kept the captain and boats
crew on board, and manning out capt. King's boat made
themſelves abſolute maſter of the Perry Galley; and one of
them who came on board, ſware at Upton, laying, damn
you for an old ſon of a bitch, I know you, and you ſhall go
along with us, or I'll cut your liver out. After this he beat
him fore and aft with his cutlafs, and the fame evening he
was carried aboard the pirates, and three of them attacked
him,

THE PIRATES.

99

him, one with a pistol loaded and levlled at his forehead;
another with a pistol at the right ear; and the third terrified
him by holding two forks, one on the right side, and the
other on the left side of his breast; and ſware, they would
blow out his brains, if he did not ſign their articles i medi-
ately. This he refused to do, and deſired them to defer it
till the next morning; and told them at the fame time, that
he had four children unprovided for, and had no inclination
to join with them, and therefore he could be of no ſervice to
them; but they infliſted abſolutely on his compliance. Then
he called the captain to be witrnes of his being ſforced; and
after all, they ſatisfied themſelves with ligning for him.

The pirates carried the Perry Galley to the land of Ruby,
where they were detained until the 10th of December, and
about that time one of the pirates told the captain that he
ſpied a ſail in the offing, and going immediately in purſuit of
her, ſhe proved to be a ſmall Dutch floop, which they took,
and put Upton and ſome others on board of her. They
watched an opportunity, and made their eſcape by carrying
away the floop, and got down the point of Courda, joining
to the Muſketta shore.

In January, 1725, Upton got his paſſage with the traders
to Carpenter's river, otherways called Martine, belonging to
the Spaniards, where they trade for cocoa. He arrived there
Feb. 12, and having made his caſe known to the governor,
he gavehim leave to go to Porto Bello by the way of Penama,
for there was no other road to travel thither, by reaſon of
the wild Indians. In 28 days he ſet out with the mules for
the city of Curritogo, which lies 56 leagues thence on the
burning mountains, and is reckoned to be half way between
the North and South seas. When he came thither he was
taken up by the governor for a Ipy, and kept prifoner there
3 months and 4 days, and ſent afterward prifoner to Kildar,
on the fourth sea, where he lay confined 28 days, waiting for
the barks which came out of the lake of Granada, bound to
Panama, where he was put on board the admirable of New
Spain, who commanded the Lima fleet in the fourth sea. Here
he was ſtrictly examined, and very much importuned to go
on board of the Spanith ſervice, which he abſolutely refuted,
defiring to go alhore that he might proceed to Porto Bello;
but he was ſent to Panama, and their imprifoned 4 months
and five days; and afterwards, he and 32 Dutchmen, who
were detained prifoners, were ſent to Porto Bello, and there
he put on board the galleons, bound for Old Spain. He
found an opportunity to make his eſcape from them, and got

on

THE HISTORY OF

100

on board a New York floop, capt. Phænix commander,
bound for Jamaica, where they arrived Dec. 28, 1726. He
had not been long in this island before he was preffed on
board his majesty's ship the Nottingham, capt. Charles Cot-
teral commander, where he remained more than two years,
in the quality of quarter-after, and behaved himself obedi-
ent to his officers commands.

This is the account which was taken from his own mouth
n writing, and which he solemnly affirmed to be true.
Nevertheless it will appear by what follows, that he is very
partial therein, and that he wilfully joined with the pirates.
For,

At the feffions of admiralty, held at Justice hall, in the
Old Baily, before Sir Henry Penrice, judge of the faid court
on Tuesday, May 6, 1729, this John Upton alias Hopton
was tried for piracy on the high seas, within the juridiction
of the admiralty of England, in feloniously and piratically
helping to run away with a certain ship, on Nov. 14, 1725,
called the Perry Galley, then under the command of Story
King in which ship he was employed as boatswain, near the
the island of Martinico in America; the faid ship and rigging
being valued at 600l. with 50 hogsheads of sugar, valued
3000l. and 250l in money &c.

The evidences to prove the fact upon the prisoners were.

Firft, Charles Dimmock mate of the faid Perey Galley,
who depofed, That on the 12th of November, 1725 they
failed from Barbadoes, and on the 14th of the fame month
they were attacked by a pirate floop, called the Night Ramb-
ler, commanded by one Cooper; and that as soon as the
pirates boarded them, the prifoner, John Upton was obferv-
ed to with them much joy of their new prize, and to fay,
He wondered where they had been fo long. That he im-
mediately signed their articles, without being compell'd to it
by the pirates, and was very dexterous in helping to unrig
the faid Perry Galley, and to carry the faid rigging on board
the pirate floop. He added, that the faid John Upton was
for having the Perry Galley burnt, and did advife to burn
the captain and the chief mate (who was this deponent) in
her; but it being put to the vote, whether to burn her or not,
it was carried by the majority not to burn her. He alfo de-
clared, That the faid John Upton (the prifoner at the bar)
made a cat of nine tails, and caufed the deponent to receive
200 laftes with it, and to be pickled after he was whipped.

The next evidence for the king againft the prifoner, was
Henry Eaton, fecond mate of the Perry Galley, who depof-

e

THE PIRATES.

101

ed to the fame effect with Charles Dimmock, adding, That
when the pirates firft feized them he was hauled by the neck
till his ſenſes were gone, to recover which the pirates run
ſpikes into his buttocks,

The third and laft evidence, was Mr. Peter Furnel, a paf-
fenger in the Perry Galley, who corroborated the former
evidence, and faid, that meeting the prifoner (John Upton) in
Jamaica, he cauſed them to be apprehended for being a
pirate; and he was put on board the Nottingham man of war,
and brought to England, and afterwards committed to the
Marhalſea Prifon, in Southwark.

The whole was attended with very great barbarities, and
when the pirates had taken the Perry Galley, they kept the
captain and all that were on board her, on the island of Ruba,
otherwife Ruby, for 17 days, where they muſt have ſtarved,
had not the Doctor of the pirate floop. relieved them; to
whom John Upton faid (when he found the doctor had ſent
proviſons to them) Damm them, let them ſtarve.

He had very little to fay for himſelf, other than denying
the fact that was ſwore againſt him, and declaring, That he
never took any share of the money or goods, while he was
with the pirates, from whom he got nothing but meat and
drink to ſupport nature. Adding, that no ſea officer had
reafon to ſuſpect him, he having faithfully ſerved the crown
of England for 23 years and upwards. He called ſome
perſons to his character, but could not bring any to diſap-
prove the fact charged upon him. The trial laſt 4 hours,
and the jury having found him guilty of the indictment, fir
Henry Penrice pronounced ſentence of death.

There was another indictment found by the grand jury of
London againſt John Upton, for feloniously and piratically
being concerned in running away with a merchant ship, the
property of perſons then unknown, the ship and rigging be-
ing then valued at 100l. But being found guilty of the firſt
indictment and the evidences being the fame as before, it was
not judged neceſſary to try him on the ſecond.

His behaviour both before and after he received ſentence
of death, was very meek and humble, and he was very meek
and devout till the day of his death.

The report being made to his majesty in council; on Wed-
neſday, May 14, 1729, the dead warrant was ligned, and
brought down to Newgate the next day, for executing him
on Friday, the 16th of the fame month, at Execution dock.

Being aſked (at the deſire of a gentleman,) whether he
adviſed burning the Perry Galley, with the chief mate in her;

he

102

THE HISTORY OF

he absolutely denied that he either defied or advifed any
such thing to be done. And he also declared, that his name,
which was put to the atticles, was not written by himself,
but by fome of the pirates; and that whatever fervice he did
them was by their command which he durft not diſobey;
and that he was obliged to give them good words, for fear
of being murdered by them in an inhuman and barbarous
manner.

He was also interrogated, why he could think that three
men of fair and unbleminſhed characters and reputations
would ſwear againſt him, having no view of reward: He
made no anſwer to this; yet at laſt he owned the facts that
were ſworn against him, except moſt of the criminal cir-
cumſtances, which he absolutely denied.

The Life of SAMUEL JOHNSTONE, a
Pirate.

LIFE was born in London, being defended from very honest and induſtrious parents, though they were in very low circumftances: yet notwithstanding their condition was meane, they took care to give their Son Samuel good education, cauſed him to be inſtruſed not only in the principles of moraſhy and religion, but also in reading, writing, and caſting accounts.

At the age of thirteen years, he was put apprentice to a
weaver in Spitalfields, to which trade he applied himself to
diligently; that he quickly became perfect in every branch
of it that was ſhewn to him. If his pleafed his matter exceed-
ingly, inſomuch that, to encourage him, he allowed him fix-
pence every week; and as a farther encouragement his par-
ents allowed him the like ſum. But this kindneſs of theirs
was the firſt step to his ruin, for inſtead of going to church
on a Sunday, he became acquainted with a parcel of loofe,
idle, young ſellows to whom he was welcome as long as his
money latted.

Before he had ſerved three years, he ran away from his
matter, and having ſaved ſome money, he went to Billing-
gate, and worked himſelf into the favour of the Graveſend
boatman, and other watermen, and in a little time became ſo
expert, that they were glad to have ſuch a hand to affiſt them
gratis. In the mean time he wrote to his parents, to delire
them to get his indentures from his matter, which with much
difficulty,

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103

difficulty, and ſome expences they obtained; and then their
fon Samuel, returned home, but being of a roving temper,
he ſoon left his father and mother, and entered on board of a
man of war, which went convoy to ſome merchantmen to the
West-Indies.

He was a lad of good natural parts, and had as many fore-
cattle jokes as any tailor on board; and being always very
merry, the captain took a fancy to him. Calling him into
thefteerage one day, he told him, that is he could reſolve
him one queſtion, he would make him quarter matter. To
this he anſwered, that if he was able, he would do it, as
willingly as he would drink a can of ſlip. Then ſaid the
captain, who was he that was born before his fatner, be-
gotten before his mother, and got the maidenhead of his
grandmother? Samuel began to paſue upon this, which
made the captain alk him, if he was a ground? No, fir,
replied Samuel, I only ſtruck upon a ſand bank; and he
whom you deſcribe was Abel; for his father Adam was
not born of but made out of earth: his mother Eve, was
not begotten, for he was made out of one Adam's ribes,
and Abel being the firſt that was buried or laid in the
earth, is therefore faid to have got the maidenhead of his
grandmother. The captain was ſo well pleafed with this
ready ſolution of this queſtion, that he not only made him
a quarter matter, but ordered the ſteward to give him a
bottle of brandy, and a ſufficient quantity of sugar to make
a can of ſlip.

At the expiration of two years the ſhip was called home
and paid off to that he had now more money than he knew
what to do with. He got acquaintance with the apprentices
of two grocers, and invited them to ſpend the next Sunday
on taking their pleafure on the Thames; he promised to
furniſh them with a yatch, and they were to provide liquor,
fugar and eatables for the company. Samuel took care to
get two watermen's apprentices to affiſt him and they all
met by the break of day, and went on board a ſmall yatch
that lay on the Thames, and which carried three ſmall guns.
They preſently unmoored, and the wind and tide favouring
them, they got through the bridge, hoifled their fails, and
went as far as the Hope. At laſt Samuel put on a whiff and
lired a gun on the larboard ſide, as a ſignal of dilſtref.
Thereupon a man of war ſent out their long boat, to know
what was the matter with them, Samuel anſwered, That
they had drank all their liquor, and eat all their provisions,
and that they ſtood in great neef of more. The crew of
the long boat being vexed to have ſuch a joke put upon them,
brought

104

THE HISTORY OF

brought the yatch along side of the man of war and then
acquainted the captain with what had pafled. He laughed
heartily at the jeft, and cauling them to come on board, ex-
amined them how they came by the yatch. Having receiv-
ed a full and satisfactory anfwer, he ordered them fome beef,
bifket, and brandy; and as they failed away, Samuel fired
three 'guns, as a compliment of thanks to the captain. It
being a moon light night, they came to their ftation about
eleven o'clock, and mooring the yatch where they found
her, went afshore.

The owner of the yatch having got the names of those
who had taken her away without his consent, obtained a
warrant against them; which Samuel hearing, made the
belt of his way to Briftol, and flipped himself on board a
merchantman bound for Jamaica. They arrived safe there,
and having delivered the lading to the person to whom it
was configned, took in another of sugar and rum, and failed
for England. They had not left Jamaica two days, when
Samuel enticed the crew to turn pirates. They killed their
captain, and put the mate in the bilboes, because he would
not join them; and chose Samuel for their captain, who fail-
ed for Placentia, and there depofed of part of their lading.
But the governor having a jealousy that they were pirates,
fent a person on board to examine the ship privately under
pretence of buying a good part of the cargo. Here he had
an opportunity of speaking with the mate, who told him
what had pafled; whereupon he made an excuse to go on
shore, and acquainted the governor with the whole matter,
who ordered feveral boats, with foldiers in them, to go and
take them. But Samuel kept a good look out, and seeing
them coming, cut his cab'e and failed away. About twelve
hours after there came a small man of war to Placentia;
who being informed by the governor, that a pirate had newly
failed from thence, and he giving a description of her, the
captain went in quest of her.

Early the next morning the man of war eſpied a ſail, and gave her chace, which being heavy laden they soon came up with and ordered the commander to come on board him, but he reſuſed to comply; whereupon the man of war gave her a broad-side, and then boarded her. Having ſecured the pirates and releafed the mate, he brought them and the ſhip into Jamaica; Samuel Johnſtone, and the reſt of the pirates, were tried and condemned for murder and piracy, and exécuted about the latter end of May; and a dispute aritung whether

THE PIRATES.

105

whether the ſhip was a lawful prize, it was left to a referrence;
and the merchant to whom the ſhip and cargo when the fail-
ed from Briftol was configned, paid the money which the
referrees had ordered; and making the mate captain, he got
hands enough, and brought the ſhip to England.

F I N I S.

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