A General History of the Pyrates Part 3

In their Voyage to Ireland, they avoided St. _George_'s Channel, and sailing North about, they put into one of the Northern Ports of that Kingdom; there they disposed of their Sloop, and coming on Sh.o.r.e they separated themselves, some going to _Cork_, and some to _Dublin_, 18 of whom obtain'd their Pardons afterwards of K. _William_. When _Avery_ had remain'd some Time in this Kingdom, he was afraid to offer his Diamonds to sale, least an Enquiry into his Manner of coming by them should occasion a Discovery; therefore considering with himself what was best to be done, he fancied there were some Persons at _Bristol_, whom he might venture to trust; upon which, he resolved to pa.s.s over into _England_; he did so, and going into _Devons.h.i.+re_, he sent to one of these Friends to meet him at a Town called _Biddiford_; when he had communicated himself to his Friends, and consulted with him about the Means of his Effects, they agreed, that the safest Method would be, to put them in the Hands of some Merchants, who being Men of Wealth and Credit in the World, no Enquiry would be made how they came by them; this Friend telling him he was very intimate with some who were very fit for the Purpose, and if he would but allow them a good Commission would do the Business very faithfully. _Avery_ liked the Proposal, for he found no other Way of managing his Affairs, since he could not appear in them himself; therefore his Friend going back to _Bristol_, and opening the Matter to the Merchants, they made _Avery_ a Visit at _Biddiford_, where, after some Protestations of Honour and Integrity, he delivered them his Effects, consisting of Diamonds and some Vessels of Gold; they gave him a little Money for his present Subsistance, and so they parted.

He changed his Name and lived at _Biddiford_, without making any Figure, and therefore there was no great Notice taken of him; yet let one or two of his Relations know where he was, who came to see him. In some Time his little Money was spent, yet he heard nothing from his Merchants; he writ to them often, and after much Importunity they sent him a small Supply, but scarce sufficient to pay his Debts: In fine, the Supplies they sent him from Time to Time, were so small, that they were not sufficient to give him Bread, nor could he get that little, without a great deal of Trouble and Importunity, wherefore being weary of his Life, he went privately to _Bristol_, to speak to the Merchants himself, where instead of Money he met a most shocking Repulse, for when he desired them to come to an Account with him, they silenced him by threatening to discover him, so that our Merchants were as good Pyrates at Land as he was at Sea.

Whether he was frightened by these Menaces, or had seen some Body else he thought knew him, is not known; but he went immediately over to _Ireland_, and from thence sollicited his Merchants very hard for a Supply, but to no Purpose, for he was even reduced to beggary: In this Extremity he was resolved to return and cast himself upon them, let the Consequence be what it would. He put himself on Board a trading Vessel, and work'd his Pa.s.sage over to _Plymouth_, from whence he travelled on Foot to _Biddiford_, where he had been but a few Days before he fell sick and died; not being worth as much as would buy him a Coffin.

Thus have I given all that could be collected of any Certainty concerning this Man; rejecting the idle Stories which were made of his fantastick Greatness, by which it appears, that his Actions were more inconsiderable than those of other Pyrates, since him, though he made more Noise in the World.

Now we shall turn back and give our Readers some Account of what became of the two Sloops.

We took Notice of the Rage and Confusion, which must have seized them, upon their missing of _Avery_; however, they continued their Course, some of them still flattering themselves that he had only out sailed them in the Night, and that they should find him at the Place of Rendezvous: But when they came there, and could hear no Tydings of him, there was an End of Hope. It was Time to consider what they should do with themselves, their Stock of Sea Provision was almost spent, and tho' there was Rice and Fish, and Fowl to be had ash.o.r.e, yet these would not keep for Sea, without being properly cured with Salt, which they had no Conveniency of doing; therefore, since they could not go a Cruizing any more, it was Time to think of establis.h.i.+ng themselves at Land; to which Purpose they took all Things out of the Sloops, made Tents of the Sails, and encamped themselves, having a large Quant.i.ty of Ammunition, and abundance of small Arms.

Here they met with several of their Countrymen, the Crew of a Privateer Sloop which was commanded by Captain _Thomas Tew_; and since it will be but a short Digression, we will give an Account how they came here.

Captain _George Dew_ and Captain _Thomas Tew_, having received Commissions from the then Governor of _Bermudas_, to sail directly for the River _Gambia_ in _Africa_; there, with the Advice and a.s.sistance of the Agents of the Royal _African_ Company, to attempt the taking the _French_ Factory at _Goorie_, lying upon that Coast. In a few Days after they sailed out, _Dew_ in a violent Storm, not only sprung his Mast, but lost Sight of his Consort; _Dew_ therefore returned back to refit, and _Tew_ instead of proceeding on his Voyage, made for the _Cape of Good Hope_, and doubling the said Cape, shaped his Course for the Straits of _Babel Mandel_, being the Entrance into the _Red Sea_. Here he came up with a large s.h.i.+p, richly laden, bound from the _Indies_ to _Arabia_, with three hundred Soldiers on Board, besides Seamen; yet _Tew_ had the Hardiness to board her, and soon carried her; and, 'tis said, by this Prize, his Men shared near three thousand Pounds a Piece: They had Intelligence from the Prisoners, of five other rich s.h.i.+ps to pa.s.s that Way, which _Tew_ would have attacked, tho'

they were very strong, if he had not been over-ruled by the Quarter-Master and others.--This differing in Opinion created some ill Blood amongst them, so that they resolved to break up pyrating, and no Place was so fit to receive them as _Madagascar_; hither they steered, resolving to live on Sh.o.r.e and enjoy what they got.

As for _Tew_ himself, he with a few others in a short Time went off to _Rhode Island_, from whence he made his Peace.

Thus have we accounted for the Company our Pyrates met with here.

It must be observed that the Natives of _Madagascar_ are a kind of Negroes, they differ from those of _Guiney_ in their Hair, which is long, and their Complexion is not so good a Jet; they have innumerable little Princes among them, who are continually making War upon one another; their Prisoners are their Slaves, and they either sell them, or put them to death, as they please: When our Pyrates first settled amongst them, their Alliance was much courted by these Princes, so they sometimes joined one, sometimes another, but wheresoever they sided, they were sure to be Victorious; for the Negroes here had no Fire-Arms, nor did they understand their Use; so that at length these Pyrates became so terrible to the Negroes, that if two or or three of them were only seen on one Side, when they were going to engage, the opposite Side would fly without striking a Blow.

By these Means they not only became feared, but powerful; all the Prisoners of War, they took to be their Slaves; they married the most beautiful of the Negroe Women; not one or two, but as many as they liked; so that every one of them had as great a Seraglio as the Grand Seignior at _Constantinople_: Their Slaves they employed in planting Rice, in Fis.h.i.+ng, Hunting, _&c._ besides which, they had abundance of others, who lived, as it were, under their Protection, and to be secure from the Disturbances or Attacks of their powerful Neighbours; these seemed to pay them a willing Homage. Now they began to divide from one another, each living with his own Wives, Slaves and Dependants, like a separate Prince; and as Power and Plenty naturally beget Contention, they sometimes quarrelled with one another, and attacked each other at the Head of their several Armies; and in these civil Wars, many of them were killed; but an Accident happened, which obliged them to unite again for their common Safety.

It must be observed that these sudden great Men, had used their Power like Tyrants, for they grew wanton in Cruelty, and nothing was more common, than upon the slightest Displeasure, to cause one of their Dependants to be tied to a Tree and shot thro' the Heart, let the Crime be what it would, whether little or great, this was always the Punishment; wherefore the Negroes conspired together, to rid themselves of these Destroyers, all in one Night; and as they now lived separate, the Thing might easily have been done, had not a Woman, who had been Wife or Concubine to one of them, run near twenty Miles in three Hours, to discover the Matter to them: Immediately upon the Alarm they ran together as fast as they could, so that when the Negroes approached them, they found them all up in Arms; wherefore they retired without making any Attempt.

This Escape made them very cautious from that Time, and it will be worth while to describe the Policy of these brutish Fellows, and to shew what Measures they took to secure themselves.

They found that the Fear of their Power could not secure them against a Surprize, and the bravest Man may be kill'd when he is asleep, by one much his inferior in Courage and Strength, therefore, as their first Security, they did all they could to foment War betwixt the neighbouring Negroes, remaining Neuter themselves, by which Means, those who were overcome constantly lied to them for Protection, otherwise they must be either killed or made Slaves. They strengthened their Party, and tied some to them by interest; when there was no War, they contrived to spirit up private Quarrels among them, and upon every little Dispute or Misunderstanding, push on one Side or other to Revenge; instruct them how to attack or surprize their Adversaries, and lend them loaded Pistols or Firelocks to dispatch them with; the Consequence of which was, that the Murderer was forced to fly to them for the safety of his Life, with his Wives, Children and Kindred.

Such as these were fast Friends, as their Lives depended upon the safety of his Protectors; for as we observed before, our Pyrates were grown so terrible, that none of their Neighbours had Resolution enough to attack them in an open War.

By such Arts as these, in the s.p.a.ce of a few Years, their Body was greatly increased, they then began to separate themselves, and remove at a greater Distance from one another, for the Convenience of more Ground, and were divided like Jews, into Tribes, each carrying with him his Wives and Children, (of which, by this Time they had a large Family,) as also their Quota of Dependants and Followers; and if Power and Command be the Thing which distinguish a Prince, these Ruffians had all the Marks of Royalty about them, nay more, they had the very Fears which commonly disturb Tyrants, as may be seen by the extream Caution they took in fortifying the Places where they dwelt.

In this Plan of Fortification they imitated one another, their Dwellings were rather Citadels than Houses; they made Choice of a Place overgrown with Wood, and scituate near a Water; they raised a Rampart or high Ditch round it, so strait and high, that it was impossible to climb it, and especially by those who had not the Use of scaling Ladders: Over this Ditch there was one Pa.s.sage into the Wood; the Dwelling, which was a Hut, was built in that Part of the Wood which the Prince, who inhabited it, thought fit, but so covered that it could not be seen till you came at it; but the greatest Cunning lay in the Pa.s.sage which lead to the Hut, which was so narrow, that no more than one Person could go a Breast, and contrived in so intricate a Manner, that it was a perfect Maze or Labyrinth, it being round and round, with several little cross Ways, so that a Person that was not well acquainted with the Way, might walk several Hours round and cross these Ways without being able to find the Hut; moreover all along the Sides of these narrow Paths, certain large Thorns which grew upon a Tree in that Country, were struck into the Ground with their Points uppermost, and the Path it self being made crooked and serpentine, if a Man should attempt to come near the Hut at Night, he would certainly have struck upon these Thorns, tho' he had been provided with that Clue which _Ariadne_ gave to _Theseus_ when he entered the Cave of the _Minataur_.

Thus Tyrant like they lived, fearing and feared by all; and in this Scituation they were found by Captain _Woods Rogers_, when he went to _Madagascar_, in the _Delicia_, a s.h.i.+p of forty Guns, with a Design of buying Slaves in order to sell to the _Dutch_ at _Batavia_ or _New-Holland_: He happened to touch upon a Part of the Island, where no s.h.i.+p had been seen for seven or eight Years before, where he met with some of the Pyrates, at which Time, they had been upon the Island above 25 Years, having a large motly Generation of Children and Grand-Children descended from them, there being about that Time, eleven of them remaining alive.

Upon their first seeing a s.h.i.+p of this Force and Burthen, they supposed it to be a Man of War sent to take them; they therefore lurked within their Fastnesses, but when some from the s.h.i.+p came on Sh.o.r.e, without any shew of Hostility, and offering to trade with the Negroes, they ventured to come out of their Holes, attended like Princes; and since they actually are Kings _De Facto_, which is a kind of a Right, we ought to speak of them as such.

Having been so many Years upon this Island, it may be imagined, their Cloaths had long been worn out, so that their Majesties were extreamly out at the Elbows; I cannot say they were ragged, since they had no Cloaths, they had nothing to cover them but the Skins of Beasts without any tanning, but with all the Hair on, nor a Shoe nor Stocking, so they looked like the Pictures of _Hercules_ in the Lion's Skin; and being overgrown with Beard, and Hair upon their Bodies, they appeared the most savage Figures that a Man's Imagination can frame.

However, they soon got rigg'd, for they sold great Numbers of those poor People under them, for Cloaths, Knives, Saws, Powder and Ball, and many other Things, and became so familiar that they went aboard the _Delicia_, and were observed to be very curious, examining the inside of the s.h.i.+p, and very familiar with the Men, inviting them ash.o.r.e. Their Design in doing this, as they afterwards confessed, was to try if it was not practicable to surprize the s.h.i.+p in the Night, which they judged very easy, in case there was but a slender Watch kept on Board, they having Boats and Men enough at Command, but it seems the Captain was aware of them, and kept so strong a Watch upon Deck, that they found it was in vain to make any Attempt; wherefore, when some of the Men went ash.o.r.e, they were for inveigling them, and drawing them into a Plot, for seizing the Captain and securing the rest of the Men under Hatches, when they should have the Night-Watch, promising a Signal to come on Board to join them; proposing, if they succeeded, to go a Pyrating together, not doubting but with that s.h.i.+p they should be able to take any Thing they met on the Sea: But the Captain observing an intimacy growing betwixt them and some of his Men, thought it could be for no good, he therefore broke it off in Time, not suffering them so much as to talk together; and when he sent a Boat on Sh.o.r.e with an Officer to treat with them about the Sale of Slaves, the Crew remained on Board the Boat, and no Man was suffered to talk with them, but the Person deputed by him for that Purpose.

Before he sailed away, and they found that nothing was to be done, they confessed all the Designs they had formed against him. Thus he left them as he found them, in a great deal of dirty State and Royalty, but with fewer Subjects than they had, having, as we observed, sold many of them; and if Ambition be the darling Pa.s.sion of Men, no doubt they were happy. One of these great Princes had formerly been a Waterman upon the _Thames_, where having committed a Murder, he fled to the _West-Indies_, and was of the Number of those who run away with the Sloops; the rest had been all foremast Men, nor was there a Man amongst them, who could either read or write, and yet their Secretaries of State had no more Learning than themselves. This is all the Account we can give of these Kings of _Madagascar_, some of whom it is probable are reigning to this Day.

CHAP. II. OF Captain _MARTEL_, And his CREW.

I Come now to the Pyrates that have rose since the Peace of _Utrecht_; in War Time there is no room for any, because all those of a roving advent'rous Disposition find Employment in Privateers, so there is no Opportunity for Pyrates; like our Mobs in London, when they come to any Height, our Superiors order out the Train Bands, and when once they are raised, the others are suppressed of Course; I take the Reason of it to be, that the Mob go into the tame Army, and immediately from notorious Breakers of the Peace, become, by being put into order, solemn Preservers of it. And should our Legislators put some of the Pyrates into Authority, it would not only lessen their Number, but, I imagine, set them upon the rest, and they would be the likeliest People to find them out, according to the Proverb, _set a Thief to catch a Thief._

To bring this about, there needs no other Encouragement, but to give all the Effects taken aboard a Pyrate Vessel to the Captors; for in Case of Plunder and Gain, they like it as well from Friends, as Enemies, but are not fond, as Things are carry'd, _of ruining poor Fellowes_, say the _Creoleans, with no Advantage to themselves._

The Mult.i.tude of Men and Vessels, employ'd this Way, in Time of War, in the _West-Indies_, is another Reason, for the Number of Pyrates in a Time of Peace: This cannot be supposed to be a Reflection on any of our _American_ Governments, much less on the King himself, by whose Authority such Commissions are granted, because of the Reasonableness, and absolute Necessity, there is for the doing of it; yet the Observation is just, for so many idle People employing themselves in Privateers, for the sake of Plunder and Riches, which they always spend as fast as they get, that when the War is over, and they can have no farther Business in the Way of Life they have been used to, they too readily engage in Acts of Pyracy, which being but the same Practice without a Commission, they make very little Distinction betwixt the Lawfulness of one, and the Unlawfulness of the other.

I have not enquired so far back, as to know the Original of this Rover, but I believe he and his Gang, were some Privateer's Men belonging to the Island of _Jamaica_, in the preceeding War; his Story is but short, for his Reign was so; an End having been put to his Adventures in good Time, when he was growing strong and formidable. We find him Commander of a Pyrate Sloop of eight Guns, and 80 Men, in the Month of _September_, 1716, cruising off _Jamaica_, _Cuba_, _&c._ about which Time he took the _Berkley_ Galley, Captain _Saunders_, and plundered him of 1000 _l._ in Money, and afterwards met with a Sloop call'd the _King Solomon_, from whom he took some Money, and Provisions, besides Goods, to a good Value.

They proceeded after this to the Port of _Cavena_, at the Island of _Cuba_, and in their Way took two Sloops, which they plundered, and let go; and off the Port fell in with a fine Galley, with 20 Guns, call'd the _John_ and _Martha_, Captain _Wilson_, which they attacked under the pyratical Black-Flag, and made themselves Masters of her. They put some of the Men ash.o.r.e, and others they detain'd, as they had done several Times, to encrease their Company; but Captain _Martel_, charged Captain _Wilson_, to advise his Owners, that their s.h.i.+p would answer his Purpose exactly, by taking one Deck down, and as for the Cargo, which consisted chiefly of Logwood and Sugar, he would take Care it should be carry'd to a good Market.

Having fitted up the aforesaid s.h.i.+p, as they design'd, they mounted her with 22 Guns, 100 Men, and left 25 Hands in the Sloop, and so proceeded to Cruize off the _Leeward_ Islands, where they met with but too much Success.

After the taking of a Sloop and a Brigantine, they gave Chase to a stout s.h.i.+p, which they came up with, and, at Sight of the Pyrate's Flag, she struck to the Robbers, being a s.h.i.+p of 20 Guns, call'd the _Dolphin_, bound for _Newfoundland_. Captain _Martel_ made the Men Prisoners, and carry'd the s.h.i.+p with him.

The middle of _December_ the Pyrates took another Galley in her Voyage home from _Jamaica_, call'd the _Kent_, Captain _Lawton_, and s.h.i.+fted her Provisions aboard their own s.h.i.+p, and let her go, which obliged her to Sail back to _Jamaica_ for a Supply for her Voyage. After this they met with a small s.h.i.+p and a Sloop, belonging to _Barbadoes_, out of both they took Provisions, and then parted with them, having first taken out some of their Hands, who were willing to be forced to go along with them. The _Greyhound_ Galley of _London_, Captain _Evans_, from _Guiney_ to _Jamaica_, was the next that had the Misfortune to fall in their Way, which they did not detain long, for as soon as they could get out all her Gold Dust, Elephant's Teeth, and 40 Slaves, they sent her onwards upon her Voyage.

They concluded now, that 'twas high Time to get into Harbour and refit, as well as to get Refreshments themselves, and wait an Opportunity to dispose of their Cargo; therefore 'twas resolved to make the best of their Way to _Santa Crux_, a small Island in the Latt.i.tude of 18, 30, N. ten Mile long, and two broad, lying South-East of _Porto Rico_, belonging to the _French_ Settlements. Here they thought they might lye privately enough for some Time, and fit themselves for further Mischief. They met with a Sloop by the Way, which they took along with them, and in the Beginning of the Year 1716-17, they arrived at their Port, having a s.h.i.+p of 20 Guns, a Sloop of eight, and three Prizes, _viz._ another s.h.i.+p of 20 Guns, a Sloop of four Guns, and another Sloop last taken; with this little Fleet, they got into a small Harbour, or Road, the N. W. Part of the Island, and warp'd up two Creeks, which were made by a little Island lying within the Bay; (I am the more particular now, because I shall take Leave of the Gentlemen, at this Place.) They had here bare 16 Foot Water, at the deepest, and but 13 or 14, at the shallowest, and nothing but Rocks and Sands without, which secured them from Wind and Sea, and likewise from any considerable Force coming against them.

When they had all got in, the first Thing they had to do, was to Guard themselves in the best Manner they could; they made a Battery of four Guns upon the Island, and another Battery of two Guns on the North Point of the Road, and warp'd in one of the Sloops with eight Guns, at the Mouth of the Channel, to hinder any Vessels from coming in; when this was done they went to Work on their s.h.i.+p, unrigging, and unloading, in order to Clean, where I shall leave them a while, till I bring other Company to 'em.

In the Month of _November_, 1716, General _Hamilton_, Commander in chief of all the _Leeward Carribee Islands_, sent a Sloop Express to Captain _Hume_, at _Barbadoes_, Commander of his Majesty's s.h.i.+p, _Scarborough_, of 30 Guns, and 140 Men, to acquaint him, that two Pyrate Sloops of 12 Guns each, molested the Colonies, having plundered several Vessels. The _Scarborough_ had bury'd twenty Men, and had near forty Sick, and therefore was but in ill State to go to Sea: However, Captain _Hume_ left his sick Men behind, and sailed to the other Islands, for a supply of Men, taking 20 Soldiers from _Antegoa_; at _Nevis_, he took 10, and 10 at St. _Christophers_, and then sailed to the Island of _Anguilla_, where he learned, that some Time before, 2 such Sloops had been at _Spanish-Town_, otherwise called, one of the _Virgin_ Islands: Accordingly, the next Day, the _Scarborough_ came to _Spanish-Town_, but could hear no News of the Sloops, only, that they had been there about _Christmas_, (it being then the 15th of _January_.)

Captain _Hume_, finding no Account could be had of these Pyrates, designed to go back, the next Day, to _Barbadoes_; but, it happened, that Night, that a Boat anchor'd there from _Santa Crux_, and informed him, that he saw a Pyrate s.h.i.+p of 22 or 24 Guns, with other Vessels, going in to the North West Part of the Island aforesaid. The _Scarborough_ weigh'd immediately, and the next Morning came in Sight of the Rovers, and their Prizes, and stood to them, but the Pilot refused to venture in with the s.h.i.+p; all the while the Pyrates fir'd red hot Bullets from the Sh.o.r.e. At length, the s.h.i.+p came to an Anchor, along Side the Reef, near the Channel, and cannonaded for several Hours, both the Vessels and Batteries: About four in the Afternoon, the Sloop that guarded the Channel, was sunk by the Shot of the Man of War; then she cannonaded the Pyrate s.h.i.+p of 22 Guns, that lay behind the Island. The next Night, _viz._ the 18th, it falling Calm, Captain _Hume_ weigh'd, fearing he might fall on the Reef, and so stood off and on for a Day or two, to block them up. On the 20th, in the Evening, they observed the Man of War to stand off to Sea, and took the Opportunity to warp out, in order to slip away from the Island; but at Twelve o'Clock they run a-ground, and then seeing the _Scarborough_ about, standing in again, as their Case was desperate, so they were put into the utmost Confusion; they quitted their s.h.i.+p, and set her on Fire, with 20 Negroes in her, who were all burnt; 19 of the Pyrates made their Escape in a small Sloop, but the Captain and the rest, with 20 Negroes, betook to the Woods, where 'twas probable they might starve, for we never heard what became of 'em afterwards: Captain _Hume_ released the Prisoners, with the s.h.i.+p and Sloop that remained, and then went after the two Pyrate Sloops first mentioned.

CHAP. III. OF Captain _TEACH_ alias BLACK-BEARD.

E_Dward Teach_ was a _Bristol_ Man born, but had sailed some Time out of _Jamaica_ in Privateers, in the late _French_ War; yet tho' he had often distinguished himself for his uncommon Boldness and personal Courage, he was never raised to any Command, till he went a-pyrating, which I think was at the latter End of the Year 1716, when Captain _Benjamin Hornigold_ put him into a Sloop that he had made Prize of, and with whom he continued in Consorts.h.i.+p till a little while before _Hornigold_ surrendered.

In the Spring of the Year 1717, _Teach_ and _Hornigold_ sailed from _Providence_, for the Main of _America_, and took in their Way a Billop from the _Havana_, with 120 Barrels of Flower, as also a Sloop from _Bermuda_, _Thurbar_ Master, from whom they took only some Gallons of Wine, and then let him go; and a s.h.i.+p from _Madera_ to _South-Carolina_, out of which they got Plunder to a considerable Value.

After cleaning on the Coast of _Virginia_, they returned to the _West-Indies_, and in the Lat.i.tude of 24, made Prize of a large _French Guiney_ Man, bound to _Martinico_, which by _Hornigold_'s Consent, _Teach_ went aboard of as Captain, and took a Cruize in her; _Hornigold_ returned with his Sloop to _Providence_, where, at the Arrival of Captain _Rogers_, the Governor, he surrendered to Mercy, pursuant to the King's Proclamation.

Aboard of this _Guiney_ Man _Teach_ mounted no Guns, and named her the _Queen Ann's Revenge_; and cruising near the Island of St. _Vincent_, took a large s.h.i.+p, called the _Great Allen_, _Christopher Taylor_ Commander; the Pyrates plundered her of what they though fit, put all the Men ash.o.r.e upon the Island above mentioned, and then set Fire to the s.h.i.+p.

A few Days after, _Teach_ fell in with the _Scarborogh_ Man of War, of 30 Guns, who engaged him for some Hours; but she finding the Pyrate well mann'd, and having tried her strength, gave over the Engagement, and returned to _Barbadoes_, the Place of her Station; and _Teach_ sailed towards the _Spanish America_.

In his Way he met with a Pyrate Sloop of ten Guns, commanded by one Major _Bonnet_, lately a Gentleman of good Reputation and Estate in the Island of _Barbadoes_, whom he joyned; but in a few Days after, _Teach_, finding that _Bonnet_ knew nothing of a maritime Life, with the Consent of his own Men, put in another Captain, one _Richards_, to Command _Bonnet_'s Sloop, and took the Major on aboard his own s.h.i.+p, telling him, that _as he had not been used to the Fatigues and Care of such a Post, it would be better for him to decline it, and live easy and at his Pleasure, in such a s.h.i.+p as his, where he should not be obliged to perform Duty, but follow his own Inclinations._

At _Turniff_ ten Leagues short of the Bay of _Honduras_, the Pyrates took in fresh Water; and while they were at an Anchor there, they saw a Sloop coming in, whereupon, _Richards_ in the Sloop called the _Revenge_, slipped his Cable, and run out to meet her; who upon seeing the black Flag hoisted, struck his Sail and came to, under the Stern of _Teach_ the Commadore. She was called the _Adventure_, from _Jamaica_, _David Harriot_ Master. They took him and his Men aboard the great s.h.i.+p, and sent a Number of other Hands with _Israel Hands_, Master of _Teach_'s s.h.i.+p, to Man the Sloop for the pyratical Account.

The 9th of April, they weighed from _Turniff_, having lain there about a Week, and sailed to the Bay, where they found a s.h.i.+p and four Sloops, three of the latter belonged to _Jonathan Bernard_, of _Jamaica_, and the other to Captain _James_; the s.h.i.+p was of _Boston_, called the _Protestant Caesar_, Captain _Wyar_ Commander. _Teach_ hoisted his Black Colours, and fired a Gun, upon which Captain _Wyar_ and all his Men, left their s.h.i.+p, and got ash.o.r.e in their Boat. _Teach_'s Quarter-Master, and eight of his Crew, took Possession of _Wyar_'s s.h.i.+p, and _Richards_ secured all the Sloops, one of which they burnt out of spight to the Owner; the _Protestant Caesar_ they also burnt, after they had plundered her, because she belonged to _Boston_, where some Men had been hanged for Pyracy; and the three Sloops belonging to _Bernard_ they let go.

From hence the Rovers sailed to _Turkill_, and then to the _Grand Caimanes_, a small Island about thirty Leagues to the Westward of _Jamaica_, where they took a small Turtler, and so to the _Havana_, and from thence to the _Bahama_ Wrecks, and from the _Bahama_ Wrecks, they sailed to _Carolina_, taking a Brigantine and two Sloops in their Way, where they lay off the Bar of _Charles-Town_ for five or six Days. They took here a s.h.i.+p as she was coming out, bound for London, commanded by _Robert Clark_, with some Pa.s.sengers on Board for _England_; the next Day they took another Vessel coming out of _Charles-Town_, and also two Pinks coming into _Charles-Town_; likewise a Brigantine with 14 Negroes aboard; all which being done in the Face of the Town, struck a great Terror to the whole Province of _Carolina_, having just before been visited by _Vane_, another notorious Pyrate, that they abandoned themselves to Dispair, being in no Condition to resist their Force. They were eight Sail in the Harbour, ready for the Sea, but none dared to venture out, it being almost impossible to escape their Hands. The inward bound Vessels were under the same unhappy Dilemma, so that the Trade of this Place was totally interrupted: What made these Misfortunes heavier to them, was a long expensive War, the Colony had had with the Natives, which was but just ended when these Robbers infested them.

_Teach_ detained all the s.h.i.+ps and Prisoners, and, being in want of Medicines, resolves to demand a Chest from the Government of the Province; accordingly _Richards_, the Captain of the _Revenge_ Sloop, with two or three more Pyrates, were sent up along with Mr. _Marks_, one of the Prisoners, whom they had taken in _Clark_'s s.h.i.+p, and very insolently made their Demands, threatning, that if they did not send immediately the Chest of Medicines, and let the Pyrate-Amba.s.sadors return, without offering any Violence to their Persons, they would murder all their Prisoners, send up their Heads to the Governor, and set the s.h.i.+ps they had taken on Fire.

Whilst Mr. _Marks_ was making Application to the Council, _Richards_, and the rest of the Pyrates, walk'd the Streets publickly, in the Sight of all People, who were fired with the utmost Indignation, looking upon them as Robbers and Murtherers, and particularly the Authors of their Wrongs and Oppressions, but durst not so much as think of executing their Revenge, for fear of bringing more Calamities upon themselves, and so they were forced to let the Villains pa.s.s with Impunity. The Government were not long in deliberating upon the Message, tho' 'twas the greatest Affront that could have been put upon them; yet for the saving so many Mens Lives, (among them, Mr. _Samuel Wragg_, one of the Council;) they comply'd with the Necessity, and sent aboard a Chest, valued at between 3 and 400 _l._ and the Pyrates went back safe to their s.h.i.+ps.

_Blackbeard_, (for so _Teach_ was generally called, as we shall hereafter shew) as soon as he had received the Medicines and his Brother Rogues, let go the s.h.i.+ps and the Prisoners; having first taken out of them in Gold and Silver, about 1500 _l._ Sterling, besides Provisions and other Matters.

From the Bar of _Charles-Town_, they sailed to _North-Carolina_; Captain _Teach_ in the s.h.i.+p, which they called the Man of War, Captain _Richards_ and Captain _Hands_ in the Sloops, which they termed Privateers, and another Sloop serving them as a Tender. _Teach_ began now to think of breaking up the Company, and securing the Money and the best of the Effects for himself, and some others of his Companions he had most Friends.h.i.+p for, and to cheat the rest: Accordingly, on Pretence of running into _Topsail_ Inlet to clean, he grounded his s.h.i.+p, and then, as if it had been done undesignedly, and by Accident; he orders _Hands_'s Sloop to come to his a.s.sistance, and get him off again, which he endeavouring to do, ran the Sloop on Sh.o.r.e near the other, and so were both lost. This done, _Teach_ goes into the Tender Sloop, with forty Hands, and leaves the _Revenge_ there; then takes seventeen others and Marroons them upon a small sandy Island, about a League from the Main, where there was neither Bird, Beast or Herb for their Subsistance, and where they must have perished if Major _Bonnet_ had not two Days after taken them off.