 CHAPTER XIX. THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN LEWIS. Captain Lewis was at an early age associated with pirates. We first find him a boy in company with a pirate banister, who was hanged at the yard-arm of a man of war, inside of Port Royal, Jamaica. This Lewis and another boy were taken with him, and brought into the island hanging by the middle at the Misen Peak. He had a great aptitude for languages, and spoke perfectly well that of the most skill-Indians, French, Spanish, and English. I mention our own, because it is doubted whether he was French or English, for we cannot trace him back to his origin. He sailed out of Jamaica till he was a lusty lad, and was then taken by the Spaniards at the Havana, where he tarried some time. But at length he and six more ran away with a small canoe, and surprised a Spanish pariahqua, out of which two men joined them, so that they were now nine in company. With this pariahqua they surprised a turtling-sloop, and forced some of the hands to take on with them, the others they sent away in the pariahqua. He played at this small game, surprising and taking coasters and turtlers, till with forced men and volunteers he made up a company of forty men. With these he took a large pink-built ship, bound for Jamaica to the Bay of Campeche, and after her several others bound to the same place. And having intelligence that there lay in the bay a fine Bermuda-built brigantine of ten guns, commanded by Captain Tucker, he sent the captain of the pink to him with the letter, the purport of which was that he wanted such a brigantine, and if he would part with her he would pay him ten thousand pieces of eight. If he refused this he would take care to lie in his way, for he was resolved either by fair or foul means to have the vessel. Captain Tucker, having read the letter, sent for the masters of vessels then lying in the bay, and told them, after he had shown the letter, that if they would make him up fifty-four men, for there were about ten Bermuda-sloops, he would go out and fight the pirates. They said no, they would not hazard their men. They depended on their sailing, and every one must take care of himself as well as he could. However, they all put to sea together, and spied a sail under the land, which had a breeze while they lay becombed. Some said he was a tartler, others the pirate, and so it proved, for it was honest Captain Lewis, who putting out his oars got in among them. Some of the sloops had four guns, some two, some none. Joseph Dill had two, which he brought on one side, and fired smartly at the pirate, but unfortunately one of them split and killed three men. Tucker called to all the sloops to send him men, and he would fight Lewis, but to no purpose. Nobody came on board him. In the meanwhile a breeze sprung up, and Tucker, trimming his sails, left them, who all fell a prey to the pirate. Even to whom, however, he fired a broadside at going off. One sloop, whose master I will not name, was a very good sailor, and was going off. But Lewis, firing a shot, brought her to, and he lay by till all the sloops were visited and secured. Then Lewis sent on board him, and ordered the master into his sloop. As soon as he was on board he asked the reason of him lying by, and betraying the trust his owners had reposed in him, which was doing like a nave and coward, and he would punish him accordingly. For, said he, you might have got off being so much a better sailor than my vessel. After this speech he fell upon him with the rope's end, and then snatching up his cane drove him about the decks without mercy. The master, thinking to pacify him, told him he had been out trading in that sloop several months, and had on board a good quantity of money, which was hid, and which, if he would send on board a black belonging to the owners, he would discover to him. This had not the desired effect, but one quite contrary. For Lewis told him he was a rascal and villain for this discovery, and he would pay him for betraying his owners, and redoubled his strokes. However, he sent and took the money and Negro, who was an able sailor. He took out of his prizes what he had occasion for. Forty able Negro sailors, and a white carpenter. The largest sloop, which was about ninety tons, he took for his own use, and mounted her with twelve guns. His crew was now about eighty men, whites and blacks. After these captures he cruised in the Gulf of Florida, laying in wait for the West India homeward bound ships that took the leeward passage, several of which, falling into his hands, were plundered by him and released. From hence he went to the coast of Carolina, where he cleaned his sloop, and a great many men whom he had forced ran away from him. However, the natives traded with him for rum and sugar, and brought him all he wanted, without the governments having any knowledge of him, for he had gotten to a very private creek, though he was very much on his guard, that he might not be surprised from the shore. From Carolina he cruised on the coast of Virginia, where he took and plundered several merchant men, and forced several men, and then returned to the coast of Carolina, where he did abundance of mischief. As he had now an abundance of French on board, who had entered with him, and Lewis, hearing the English had a design to maroon them, he secured the men he suspected, and put them in a boat, with all the other English, ten leagues from shore, with only ten pieces of beef, and sent them away, keeping none but French and Negroes. These men it is supposed, all perished in the sea. From the coast of Carolina he shaped his course for the banks of Newfoundland, where he overhauled several fishing vessels, and then went into Trinity Harbor in Conception Bay, where there lay several merchant men, and seized a twenty-four-gun galley called the Herman. The commander, Captain Beale, told Lewis if he would send his quartermaster ashore he would furnish him with necessaries. He, being sent ashore, a council was held among the masters, the consequence of which was the seizing the quartermaster, whom they carried to Captain Wode's Rogers. He chained him to a sheet anchor which was ashore, and planted guns at the point to prevent the pirate getting out, but to little purpose. For the people at one of these points firing too soon Lewis quitted the ship, and by the help of oars and the favor of the night got out in his sloop, though she received many shot in her hull. The last shot that was fired at the pirate did him considerable damage. He lay off and on the harbor, swearing he would have his quartermaster, and intercepted two fishing shallops on board of one of which was the captain of the galley's brother. He detained them, and sent word, if his quartermaster did not immediately come off, he would put all his prisoners to death. He was sent on board without hesitation. Lewis and the crew inquired how he had been used, and he answered very civilly, it's well, said the pirate, for had you been ill-treated I would have put all these rascals to the sword. They were dismissed, and the captain's brother going over the side the quartermaster stopped him, saying he must drink the gentleman's health ashore, particularly Captain Rogers's, and whispering him in the ear told him if they had known if his being chained all night he would have been cut in pieces with all his men. After this poor man and his shallops company were gone the quartermaster told the usage he had met with, which enraged Lewis, and made him reproach his quartermaster, whose answer was that he did not think it just the innocent should suffer for the guilty. The masters of the merchant men sent to Captain Tudor Trevor, who lay at St. John's in the sheerness man of war. He immediately got under sail, and missed the pirate but four hours. She kept along the coast and made several prizes, French and English, and put into a harbor where a friendship lay making fish. She was built at the latter end of the war, for a privateer was an excellent sailor, and mounted twenty-four guns. The commander hailed him, the pirate answered from Jamaica with rum and sugar. The Frenchman bid him go about his business, that a pirate's loop was on the coast, and he might be the rogue. If he did not immediately shear off he would fire a broadside into him. He went off and lay a fortnight out at sea, so far as not to be described from the shore, with resolution to have the ship. The Frenchman being on his guard, in the meanwhile raised a battery on the shore which commanded the harbor. After a fortnight, when he was thought to be gone off he returned, and took two of the fishing shallops belonging to the Frenchman, and banning them with pirates they went in. One shallop attacked the battery. The other surprised, boarded, and carried the ship, just as the morning star appeared, for which reason he gave her that name. In the engagement the owner's son was killed, who made the voyage out of curiosity only. The ship being taken, seven guns were fired, which was the signal, and the sloop came down and lay alongside the ship. The captain told him he supposed he only wanted his liquor. But Louis made answer he wanted his ship, and accordingly hoisted all his ammunition and provision into her. When the Frenchman saw they would have his ship he told her trim, and Louis gave him the sloop, and accepting what he took for provision all the fish he had made. Several of the French took on with him, who with others, English and French, had by force or voluntarily, made him up two hundred men. On Newfoundland he steered for the coast of Guinea, where he took a great many ships, English, Dutch, and Portuguese. Among these ships was one belonging to Carolina, commanded by Captain Smith. While he was in chase of this vessel a circumstance occurred, which made his men believe he dealt with the devil. His fore and main top mast being carried away, he, Louis, running up the shrouds to the main top, tore off a handful of hair, and throwing it into the air, used this expression. Good devil, take this till I come. And it was observed that he came afterwards faster up with the chase than before the loss of his top masts. Smith being taken, Louis used him very civilly, and gave him as much or more in value than he took from him, and let him go, saying he would come to Carolina when he had made money on the coast, and would rely on his friendship. They kept some time on the coast, when they quarreled among themselves, the French and English, of which the former were more numerous, and they resolved to part. The French therefore chose a large sloop newly taken, thinking the ship's bottom, which was not sheathed, damaged by the worms. According to this agreement they took on board what ammunition and provision they thought fit out of the ship, and put off choosing one LeBar, captain. As it blew hard and the decks were encumbered, they came to an anchor under the coast to stow away their ammunition, goods, etc. Louis told his men they were a parcel of rogues, and he would make them refund. Accordingly he run alongside, his guns being all loaded and new primed, and ordered him to cut away his mast, or he would sink him. LeBar was obliged to obey. Then he ordered them all ashore. They begged the liberty of carrying their arms, goods, etc. with them. But he allowed them only their small arms and cartridge boxes. Then he brought the sloop alongside, put everything on board the ship, and sunk the sloop. LeBar and the rest begged to be taken on board. However, though he denied them, he suffered LeBar in some few to come, with whom he and his men drank plentifully. The negroes on board Louis told him the French had a plot against him. He answered he could not withstand his destiny, for the devil told him in the great cabin he should be murdered that night. In the dead of the night the rest of the French came on board in canoes, got into the cabin, and killed Louis. They fell on the crew, but after an hour and a half's dispute the French were beaten off and the quartermaster, John Cornelius and Irishman, succeeded Louis. He was the mildest mannered man that ever scuttled ship or cut a throat. With such true breeding of a gentleman you never could discern his real thought. Pity he loved an adventurous life's variety, he was so great a loss to good society. End of chapter 19 Chapter 20 of The Pirate's Own Book This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Logan McCammon The Pirate's Own Book by Charles Elms Chapter 20 The Life, Career and Death of Captain Thomas White He was born at Plymouth, where his mother kept a public house. She took great care of his education and when he was grown up, as he had an inclination to the sea, procured him the king's letter. After he had served some years on board a man of war, he went to Barbados, where he married, got into the merchant service, and designed to settle in the island. He had the command of the marigold Brigantine given to him, in which he made two successful voyages to Guinea and back to Barbados. In his third, he had the misfortune to be taken by a French pirate, as were several other English ships, the masters and inferior officers of which they detained, being in want of good artist, the Brigantine belonging to White, they kept for their own use, and sunk the vessel they before sailed in. But meeting with the ship on the Guinea Coast, more fit for their purpose, they went on board her and burnt the Brigantine. It is not my business here to give an account of this French pirate. Any further than Captain White's story obliges me. Though I beg leave to take notice of their barbarity to the English prisoners, for they would set them up as a butt or mark to shoot at. Several of whom were thus murdered in cold blood by way of diversion. White was marked out for a sacrifice by only of these villains, who, for what reason I know not, has worn his death, which he escaped thus. One of the crew, who had a friendship for White, knew that this fellow's designed to kill him in the night, and therefore advised him to lie between him and the ship's side, with intention to save him, which indeed he did, but was himself shot by the murderous villain, who mistook him for White. After sometime cruising along the coast, the pirates doubled the cape of good hope, and shaped their course for Madagascar, where, being drunk and mad, they knocked their ship on the head, at the south end of the island, at a place called by the native's Alexa. The country thereabouts was governed by a king, named Mepheli. When the ship struck, Captain White, Captain Borman, born in the Isles of White, formerly a lieutenant of a man of war, but in the merchant's service, when he fell into the hands of the pirates, Captain Bowen and some other prisoners got into the longboat, and with broken oars and barrel staves, which they found in the bottom of the boat, paddled to Augustine Bay, which is about 14 or 15 leagues from the wreck where they landed, and were kindly received by the king of Bava, the name of that part of the island, who spoke good English. They stayed here a year and a half at the king's expense, who gave them a plentiful allowance of provisions, as was his custom to all white men, who met with any misfortunes on his coast. His humanity not only provided for such, but the first European vessel that came in, he always obliged to take in the unfortunate people. Let the vessel be what it would, for he had no notion of any difference between pirates and merchants. At the expiration of the above term, a pirate brigantine came in, on board which the king obliged them to enter, or travel by land to some other place, which they durst not do, and of two evils chose the least, that of going on board the pirate vessel, which was commanded by one William Reed, who received them very civilly. This commander went along the coast and picked up what Europeans he could meet with. His crew, however, did not exceed 40 men. He would have been glad of taking some of the wrecked Frenchmen, but for the barbarity they had used towards the English prisoners, however, it was impracticable. For the French pretending to lord it over the natives, whom they began to treat inhumanely, were set upon by them, one half of their number cut off, and the other half made slaves. Reed, with his gang, in a brigantine of 60 tons, steered his course for the Persian Gulf, where they met a grab, a one mast vessel, of about 200 tons, which was made a prize. They found nothing on board but bale goods, most of which they threw over board in search of gold, and to make room in the vessel, but as they learned afterwards, they threw over in their search what they so greedily hunted for. For there was a considerable quantity of gold concealed in one of the bales they tossed into the sea. In this cruise, Captain Reed fell ill and died, and was seceded by one James. The brigantine, being small, crazy in war meeting, they shaped their course for the island of Mayota, where they took at the mass of the brigantine, fitted up the grab, and made a ship of her. Here they took in a quantity of fresh provisions, which are in this island very plentiful and very cheap, and found a twelve-word boat, which formally belonged to the Ruby East Indian men, which had been lost there. They stayed here all the monsoon time, which is about six months, after which they resolved for Madagascar. As they came in with the land, they spied a sail coming round from the east side of the island. They gave chase on both sides, so that they soon met. They hailed each other and receiving the same answer from each vessel, Viz, from the other seas, they joined company. This vessel was a small friendship, laden with liquors from Martinico, first commanded by one forge, to trade for the pirates with slaves at Ambonavila, on the east side of the island, and the latitude of 17 degrees 30 minutes, and was by them taken over by the following manner. The pirates, who were headed by George Booth, now commander of the ship, went on board, as they had often done, to the number of 10 and carried money with them under pretense of purchasing what they wanted. This Booth had formerly been gunner of a pirate ship, called the dolphin captain forge, was pretty much upon his guard, and searched every man as he came over the side, and a pair of pocket pistols were found upon a Dutchman, who was the first that entered. The captain told him that he was a rogue, and had designed upon his ship, and the pirates pretended to be so angry with this fellow's offering to come on board with arms, that they threatened to knock him on the head, and tossing him roughly into the boat, ordered him ashore, though they had before taken in oath on bible, either to carry the ship, or die in the undertaking. They were all searched, but they however contrived to get on board four pistols, which were all the arms they had for the enterprise. The foreshay had 20 hands on board, and his small arms on the awning, to be in readiness. The captain invited them into the cabin to dinner, but Booth chose to dine with the petty officer, though one Johnson, Isaac, and another went down. Booth was to give the watchword, which was Harrah, standing near the awning, and being a nimble fellow, at one spring he threw himself upon it. Drew the arms to him, fired his pistol among the men, one of whom he wounded, who jumping over board was lost, and gave the signal. Three, I said, were in the cabin, and seven upon deck, who with hand spikes and the arms seized secured the ship's crew. The captain and his two mates, who were at dinner in the cabin hearing the pistol, fell upon Johnson, and stabbed him in several places with their forks. But they, being silver, did him no great damage. Verge snatched his piece, which he snapped at Isaac's breast several times, but it would not go off. At last, finding his resistance vein, he submitted, and the pirate set him, and those of his men who would not join them on shore, allowing him to take his books, papers, and whatever else he claimed as belonging to himself, and besides treating him very humanely, gave him several casks of liquor and arms and powder to purchase provisions in the country. I hope this discretion, as it was in a manner needful, will be excused. I shall now proceed. After they had taken in the Dolphin's Company, which were on the island and increased their crew, by that means, to the number of 80 hands, they had sailed to St. Mary's, where Captain Mawson's ship lay at anchor, between the island and the main. This gentleman and his whole ship's company had been cut off at the instigation of Ort van Til, a Dutchman of New York. At a fur, they took water cask and other necessaries, which having done, they designed for the river mythology, on the west side of Madagascar in the latitude of 16 degrees or thereabouts. To salt up provisions and to proceed to the East Indies, cruise off the islands of St. John and lie in wait for the more ships for Mawka. In their way to mythology, they fell in, as I have said, with the pirate, on board of which was Captain White. They joined company, came to an anchor together in the above named river, where they had cleaned, salted, and took in their provisions, and were ready to go to sea, when a large ship appeared in sight and stood into the same river. The pirates knew not whether she was a merchant man or man of war. She had been the latter, belonging to the French king, and could mount fifty guns. But being taken by the English, she was bought by some London merchants, and fitted out from that port to slave at Madagascar, and go to Jamaica. The captain was a young inexperienced man who was put in with a nurse. The pirates sent their boats to speak with them, but the ship firing at them, they concluded it a man of war, and rode ashore. The grab standing in, and not keeping her wind so well as the French built ship, run among a parcel of mangroves, and a stunt piercing her bottom. She sunk, the other run aground, let go her anchor, and came to no damage, for the tide of flood fetched her off. The captain of the speaker, for that was the name of the ship which frightened the pirates, was not a little vain of having forced these two vessels ashore. Though he did not know whether they were pirates or merchant men, and could not help expressing himself in these words. How will my name ring on the exchange, when it is known I have run two pirates aground, which gave handle to a satirical return from one of his men after he was taken, who said, Lord, how our captain's name will ring on the exchange. When it is heard, he frightened two pirate ships ashore, and was taken by their boats afterwards. When the speaker came within shot, she fired several times at the two vessels, and when she came to anchor several more into the country, which alarmed the Negroes who, appointing their king, he would allow him no trade, to the pirates living ashore, and who had a design on his ship, interceded for them, telling the king they were their countrymen. And what had happened was through a mistake. It being accustomed among them to fire their guns by way of respect, and it was owing to the gunner of the ship's negligence that they fired shot. The captain of the speaker sent his purser ashore to go up the country to the king, who lived about 24 miles from the coast, to carry a couple of small arms and lid with gold, a couple of brass blunder buses, and a pair of pistols as presents, and to require trade. As soon as the purser was ashore, he was taken prisoner by one Tom Collins, a washman, born in Penbroke, who lived on shore, and had belonged to the charming Mary of Barbados, which went out with a commission but was converted to a pirate. He told the purser he was his prisoner, and must answer the damage done to two merchants who were slaving. The purser answered that he was not commander, that the captain was a hot rash youth put into business by his friends, which he did not understand. But however, satisfaction should be made. He was carried by Collins on board Booth's ship, where, at first, he was talked to in pretty strong terms, but after a while very civilly used, and the next morning sent up to the king with a guide, and peace made for him. The king allowed them trade, and sent down the usual presents, a couple of oxen between 20 and 30 people laden with rice, and as many more with the country liquor called Toque. The captain then settled the factory on the shoreside, and began to buy slaves and provisions. The pirates were among them, and had opportunities of sounding the men, and knowing in what posture the ship lay, they found by one human, belonging to the speaker, that there were not above 40 men on board, and that they had lost the second mate and 20 hands in the long boat, on the coast, before they came into this harbor, but that they kept a good look out, and had their guns ready primid, however he for a hundred pounds undertook to wet all the priming, and assist in taking the ship. After some days the captain of the speaker came on shore, and was received with great civility by the heads of the pirates, having agreed before to make satisfaction. In a day or two after, he was invited by them to eat a barbecued show, which invitation he accepted. After dinner Captain Bowen, who was, I have already said, a prisoner on board the French pirate, but now become one of the fraternity, and master of the grab went out and returned with a case of pistols in his hand, and told the captain of the speaker, whose name I won't mention, that he was his prisoner. He asked upon what account? Bowen answered, they wanted his ship, his was a good one, and they were resolved to have her, to make amends for the damage he had done them. In the meanwhile his boat's crew and the rest of the men ashore were told by others of the pirates, who were drinking with them, that they were also prisoners. Some of them answered, Zounds, we don't trouble our heads what we are, let's have to other bowl of punch. A watchword was given and no boat to be admitted on the ship. This word, which was for that night, Coventry, was known to them. At eight o'clock they manned the twelve-word boat, and the one they found at Mayota with twenty-four men, and set out for the ship. When they were put off, the captain of the speaker desired them to come back. As they wanted to speak with them, Captain Puth asked what he wanted. He said, they could never take his ship. Then, said Puth, will die in or alongside of her. But, replied the captain, if you will go with safety, don't board on the larbored side, for there is a gun out of the steerage loaded with partridge, which will clear the docks. They thanked him, and proceeded. When they were near the ship, they were hailed, and the answer was, the Coventry all well said the mate, get the lights over the side. But spying the second boat, he asked what boat that was. One answered it was a raft of water. Another that it was a boat of beef. This disagreement, and the answers, made the mate suspicious, who cried out, Pirates, take your arms my lads, and immediately clapped a match to a gun, which, as the primary was before wet, by the treachery of few men, only fizzed. They boarded in the instant, and made themselves masters of her, without the loss of a man on either side. The next day, they put necessary provisions on board the French built ship, and gave her to the captain of the speaker, and those men who would go off with him, among whom was man, who had betrayed his ship, for the pirates had both paid him the one hundred, I agreed, and kept to secret, the captain having thus lost his ship, sailed in that which the pirates gave him, for Johanna, where he fell ill and died with grief. The pirates having here victualed, they sailed for the Bay of St. Augustine, where they took in between seventy and eighty men, who had belonged to the ship Alexander, commanded by Captain James a pirate. They also took up her guns, and mounted the speaker with fifty-four, which made up their number, and two hundred and forty men, besides slaves, of which they had about twenty. From hence, they sailed for the East Indies, but they stopped at Zegobar for fresh provisions, where the Portuguese had once a settlement, but now inhabited by Arabians. Some of them went ashore with the captain to buy provisions. The captain was sent for by the governor, who went with about fourteen in company. They passed through the guard, and where they had entered the governor's house, they were all cut off, and at the same time, others who were in different houses, in the town were set upon. Which made them fly to the shore. The longboat, which lay off a grappling, was immediately put in by those who looked after her, where there were not above half a dozen of the pirates who brought their arms ashore, but they piled them so well, for they were in the boat, that most of the men got into her. The quartermaster ran down sword in hand, and though he was attacked by many, he behaved himself so well, that he got into a little canoe, put off, and reached the longboat. In the interim, the little fourth the Arabians had played upon the ship, which returned the salute very warmly. Thus they got on board, with the loss of captain Booth and twenty men, and set sail for the East Indies. When they were under sail, they went to voting for a new captain, and the quartermaster, who had behaved so well in the last affair what the Arabians was chosen. But he, declining all command, the crew made choice of bowing for captain, pickering to succeed him as master, Samuel Herot, a Frenchman, for quartermaster, and Nathaniel North for captain quartermaster. Things being thus settled, they came to the mouth of the Red Sea, and fell in with thirteen sail of more ships, which they kept company with the greater part of the day, but afraid to venture on them as they took them for Portuguese men of war, at length part were for boarding, and advised it. The captain, though, he said little, did not seem inclined, for he was but a young pirate, though an old commander of a merchant man, those who pushed for boarding, then desired captain Bormann already mentioned to take the command. But he said he would not be an usper, that nobody was more fit for it than he who had it, that for his part he would stand by his fusel, and went forward to the forecast with such as would have him take the command to be ready to board, on which the captain's quartermaster said, if they were resolved to engage their captain, whose representative he was, did not want resolution, therefore ordered them to get their tax on board, for they had already made a clear ship, and get ready for boarding, which they accordingly did, and coming up with the sternmost ship, they fired a broadside into her, which killed two mores, clapped her on board and carried her, but night coming on, they made only this prize, which yielded them five hundred pound per man. From hence they sailed to the coast of Malibar, the adventures of these pirates on this coast are already set down in Captain Bowen's life, to which I refer the reader, and shall only observe that Captain White was all this time before the mast, being a forced man from the beginning. Bowen's crew dispersing, Captain White went to Methilodge, where he lived ashore with the king, not having an opportunity of getting off the island, till another pirate ship, called the Prosperous, commanded by one Howard, who had been bred a letterman on the river Thames, came in. This ship was taken at Augustine by some pirates from shore, and the crew of their longboat, which joined them at the instigation of one ranton, boat-sway mate, who sent for water. They came on board in the night and surprised her, though not without resistance, in which the captain and chief mate were killed, and several others wounded. Those who were ashore with Captain White, resolving to enter in the ship, determined him to go also, rather than be left alone with the natives, hoping by some accident or other, to have an opportunity of returning home. He continued on board the ship, in which he was made quartermaster, till they met with and all went on board of Bowen, as is set down in his life, in which ship he continued after Bowen left them. At Port Dolphin, he went off in the boat to fetch some of the crew ashore. The ship being blown to sea the night before, the ship not being able to get in, and he supposing her gone to the west side of the island as they had formally proposed, he steered that course in the boat with 26 men. They touched at Augustine, expecting the ship, but she not appearing in a week, the time they waited, the king ordered them to be gone, telling them they imposed on him with lies, for he did not believe they had any ship. However, he gave them fresh provision, they took in water and made for methilodge. Here, as Captain White was known to the king, they were kindly received, and state about a fortnight in expectation of the ship, but she not appearing, they raised their boat a streak, salted the provision the king gave them, put water aboard, and stood for the north end of the island. Designing to go around believing their ship might be at the island of St. Mary, when they came to the north end, the current which sits to the north west for eight months in the year was so strong they found it impossible to get round, wherefore they got into a harbor of which there are many for small vessels, here they stayed about three weeks or a month, when part of the crew were for burning the boat, and traveling over land to a black king of their acquaintance, whose name was Reborimbo, who lived at a place called Manangoromazae in latitude 15 degrees or thereabouts. As this king had been several times assisted by whites in his wars, he was a great friend to them. Captain White dissuaded them from his undertaking, and with much ado, saved the boat. But one half of the men being resolved to go by land, they took what provisions they thought necessary and set out. Captain White, and those who stayed with him, conveyed them a day's journey, and then returning, he got into the boat with his companions and went back to mythology. During these men might return, prevail with the rest, and burn the boat. Here he built a deck on his boat, and lay by three months, in which time there came in three pirates with a boat, who had formerly been trepand on board the Severn and Scarborough men of war, which had been looking for pirates on the east side, from which ships they made their escape Emojila, in a small canoe to Johanna, and from Johanna to Mayota, where the king built them the boat, which brought them to mythology. The time of the current setting with violence to the northwest being over, they proceeded together in White's boat, burning that of Mayota to the north end, where the current running yet too strong to get around, they went into a harbor and stayed there a month. Maintaining themselves with fish and wild hogs of which there was a great plenty, at length having fine weather and the strength of the current abating, they got round, and after sailing about 40 miles on the east side, they went into a harbor, where they found a piece of a jacket, which they knew belonged to one of those men who had left them to go over land. He had been a forced man and a ship carpenter, this they supposed he had torn to wrap around his feet, that part of the country being barren and rocky as they sailed along the coast. They came to anchor in convenient harbors every night, to the god as far as Mann and Garomasi, where King Rebarimbo resided, where they went into a choir for the men who left them at the north end and to recruit with provisions. The latter was given them, but they could get no information of their companions. From hence they went to the island of St. Mary, where a canoe came off to them with a letter directed to any white man. They knew it to be the hand of one of their former shipmates. That contest of this letter was to advise them to be on their guard and not trust too much to the blacks of this place. They having been formally treacherous, they inquired after their ship and were informed that the company had given her to the Moors, who were gone away with her and that they themselves were settled at Ambonovla, about 20 leagues to the south word of St. Mary, where they lived among the Negroes as so many sovereign princes. One of the blacks who brought off the letter went on board their boat, carried them to the place called Alumba, a point of land made by a river on one side and the sea on the other, where 12 of them lived together in a large house they had built and fortified with about 20 pieces of cannon. The rest of them were settled in small companies of about 12 or 14 together, more or less up the Sed River and along the coast every nation by itself as the English, French, Dutch and sea they made inquiry of the consorts after the different prizes which belonged to them and they found all very justly laid to be given them. If ever they returned as were that belonged to the men who went over land, Captain White, hankering after home, proposed going out again in the boat for he was adverse to settling with them and many others agreed to go under his command and if they could meet with the ship to carry them to Europe to follow their old vacation but the others did not think it reasonable he should have the boat but that it should be set to sail for the benefit of the company. Accordingly it was set up and Captain White bought it for 400 pieces of aid and with some of his old consorts whose number was increased by the other of the ship's crew he went back the way he had come to Methilodge. Here he met with a French ship of about 50 tons and six guns which had been taken by some pirates who lived at Maratun on the east side of the island and some of the degrave east in the immense crew to whom the master of her refused a passage to Europe. For as he had himself been a pirate and quartermaster Jeboan in the speaker he apprehended their taking away his ship or then existing between England and France he thought they might do it without being called in question as pirates. The pirates who had been concerned in taking Harald's ship for that was his name had gone up the country and left her to the men belonging to the degrave who had fitted her up cleaned and tallowed her and got in some provision where they designed to go to the east indies that they might light on some ship to return to their own country. Captain White finding these men proposed joining him and going round to Ambonovala to make up a company it was agreed upon and they unanimously chose him commander they accordingly put to sea and stood away around the south end of the island and touched at Don Mascareños where he took in a surgeon and stretching over again to Madagascar fell in with Ambonovala and made up his compliment of 60 men from hence he shaped his course for the island of Mayota where he cleaned his ship and waited for the season to go into the red sea his provisions being taken in the time proper and the ship will fitted he steered for Bebo Mandib and running into a harbor waited for the Maka ships he here took two grabs laden with provisions and having some small money and drugs aboard these he plundered of what was for his turn kept them a fortnight by him and let them go soon after they aspired a lofty ship upon which they put to sea but finding her European built and too strong to attempt for it was a Dutchman they gave over the chase and were glad to shake them off and return to their station fancying they were here discovered from the coast of Arabia or that the grabs had given information of them stood over the Ethiopian shore keeping a good look out for the Maka ships a few days after they met with a large ship of about 1000 tons and 600 men called the Malabar which they chased kept company with her all night and took in the morning with the loss of only their boatswain and two or three men wounded and taking the ship they damaged their own so much by springing their foremast carrying away their boatsprit and beating in part of their upper works that they did not think her longer fit for their use they therefore filled her away with prisoners gave them provisions and sent them away some days after this they aspired a Portuguese man of war of 44 guns which they chased but gave it over by carrying away their main top mast so that they did not speak with her for the Portuguese took no notice of them four days after they had left this man of war they fell in with a Portuguese merchant man which they chased with English colors flying the chase taking white for an English man of war or East Indian man made no sale to get from him but on his coming up bought to and sent his boat on board with a present of sweetmeats for the English captain his boat's crew was detained and the pirates getting into the boat with their arms went on board and fired on the Portuguese who being surprised asked if war was broke out between England and Portugal they answered in the affirmative but the captain could not believe them however they took what they liked and kept him with them after two days they met with the Dorothy an English ship Captain Penredoc commander coming from Moca they exchanged several shots in the chase but when they came alongside of her they entered their men and found no resistance she being navigated by Moors no Europeans except the officers being on board on a vote they gave Captain Penredoc from whom they took a considerable quantity of money the Portuguese ship and cargo with what bill he pleased to take out of his own bid him go about his business and make what he could of her as to the English ship they kept her for their own use soon after they plundered the Malabar ship out of which they took as much money as came two two hundred sterling a man but missed fifty thousand sequins which were hid in a jar under a cow stall kept for the giving milk to the poor supercargo an ancient man they then put the Portuguese and more prisoners on board the Malabar and sent them about their business the day after they had sent them away one captain Benjamin Stacey in a catch of six guns fell into their hands they took what money he had and what goods and provisions they wanted among the money were five hundred dollars a silver mug and two spoons belonging to a couple of children on board who were under the care of Stacey the children took on for their loss and the captain asked the reason of their tears was answered by Stacey and the above sum and plate was all the children had to bring them up Captain White made a speech to his men and told them it was cruel to rob the innocent children upon which by unanimous consent always restored to them again besides they made a gathering among themselves and made a present to Stacey's maid and other of his inferior officers and about one hundred twenty dollars to the children they then discharged Stacey and his crew and made the best of their way out of the Red Sea they came into the Bay of Defar where they found a catch at anchor which the people had made prize of by suing the master and boats grew ashore they found a French gentleman Juan Montseur Berger on board whom they carried with them took out about two thousand dollars and sold the catch to the chef ashore for provisions hence they sailed for Madagascar but touched at Mascarena's where several of them went ashore with their booty about one thousand two hundred sterling a man here taking in fresh provisions White steered for Madagascar and fell in with hopeful point where they shared their goods and took up settlements ashore where White built a house bought cattle took off the upper deck of ship and was fitting her up for the next season when she was near ready for sea Captain John Halsey who had made a broken voyage came in with a brigantine which being a more proper vessel for their turn they desisted from working on the ship and those who had a mind for fresh adventures went on board Halsey among whom Captain White entered before the mast at his return to Madagascar White was taken ill of a flux which in about five or six months ended his days bonding his time was drawing night he made his will left several legacies and named three men of different nations guardian to his son he had by a woman in the country requiring he might be sent to England with the money he left him by the first English ship to be brought up in the Christian religion in hopes that he might live a better man than his father he was buried with the same ceremony they used at the funerals of their companions which is mentioned in the account of Halsey some years after an English ship touching there the guardians faithfully discharged their trust and put him on board with the captain who brought up the boy with care acting by him as became a man of probity and honor end of life career and death of Captain Thomas White recording by Logan McCammon Chapter 21 of the Pirates Own Book by Charles Elms this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Michele Crandall The Pirates Own Book by Charles Elms Chapter 21 The Life, Atrocities, and Bloody Death of Blackbeard Edward Teach was a native of Bristol and having gone to Jamaica frequently sailed from that port as one of the crew of a privateer during the French War in that station he gave frequent proofs of his boldness and personal courage but he was not entrusted with any command until Captain Benjamin Hornigold gave him the command of a prize which he had taken in the spring of 1717 Hornigold and Teach sailed from Providence for the continent of America and on their way captured a small vessel with 120 barrels of flour which they put on board their own vessel they also seized two other vessels from one they took some gallons of wine and from the other plunder to a considerable value after cleaning upon the coast of Virginia they made a prize of the large French guinea man bound to Martinique and Teach obtaining the command of her went to the island of Providence and surrendered to the king's clemency Teach now began to act an independent part he mounted his vessel with 40 guns and named her the Queen Anne's Revenge cruising near the island of St. Vincent he took a large ship called the Great Allen and after having plundered her of what he deemed proper set her on fire a few days after Teach encountered the Scarborough Man of War and engaged her for some hours but perceiving his strength and resolution she retired and left Teach to pursue his depredations his next adventure was with a sloop of 10 guns commanded by Major Bonnet and these two men cooperated for some time but Teach finding him unacquainted with naval affairs gave the command of Bonnet's ship to Richards one of his own crew and entertained Bonnet on board his own vessel watering at Turniff they discovered a sail and Richards with the revenge slipped her cable and ran out to meet her upon seeing the black flag wasted the vessel struck and came to under the stern of Teach the Commodore this was the adventure from Jamaica they took the captain and his men on board the great ship and manned his sloop for their own service weighing from Turniff where they remained during a week and sailing to the bay they found there a ship and four sloops Teach hoisted his flag and began to fire at them upon which the captain and his men left their ship and fled to the shore Teach burned two of these sloops and let the other three depart they afterward sailed to different places and having taken two small vessels anchored off the bar of Charleston for a few days here they captured a ship bound for England as she was coming out of the harbor they next seized a vessel coming out of Charleston and two pinks coming into the same harbor together with a brigantine with 14 negroes the audacity of these transactions performed inside of the town struck the inhabitants with terror as they had been lately visited by some other notorious pirates meanwhile there were eight sail in the harbor none of which durst set to sea for fear of falling into the hands of Teach the trade of this place was totally interrupted and the inhabitants were abandoned to despair their calamity was greatly augmented from this circumstance that a long and desperate war with the natives had just terminated when they began to be infested by these robbers Teach, having detained all the persons taken in these ships as prisoners they were soon in great want of medicines and he had the audacity to demand a chest from the governor this demand was made in a manner not less daring than insolent Teach sent Richards, the captain of the revenge with Mr. Marks, one of the prisoners and several others to present their request Richards informed the governor that unless their demand was granted and he and his companions returned in safety every prisoner on board the captured ships should instantly be slain and the vessels consumed to ashes during the time that Mr. Marks was negotiating with the governor Richards and his associates walked the streets at pleasure while indignation flamed from every eye against them as the robbers of their property and the terror of their country though the affront thus offered to the government was great and most audacious yet to preserve the lives of so many men they granted their request and sent on board a chest valued at three or four hundred pounds Teach, as soon as he received the medicines and his fellow pirates pillaged the ships of gold and provisions and then dismissed the prisoners with their vessels from the bar of Charleston they sailed to North Carolina Teach now began to reflect how he could best secure the spoil along with some of the crew who were his favorites accordingly under pretense of cleaning he ran his vessel on shore and grounded then ordered the men in hand's loop to come to his assistance which they endeavoring to do also ran aground and so they were both lost then Teach went into the tender with forty hands and upon a sandy island about a leak from the shore where there was neither bird nor beast nor herb for their subsistence he left seventeen of his crew who must inevitably have perished had not major bonnet received intelligence of their miserable situation and sent a longboat for them after this barbarous deed Teach, with the remainder of his crew went and surrendered to the governor of North Carolina retaining all the property which had been acquired by his fleet the temporary suspension of the depredations of Blackbeard for so he was now called did not proceed from a conviction of his former errors or a determination to reform but to prepare for future and more extensive exploits as governors are but men and not infrequently by no means possessed of the most virtuous principles the gold of Blackbeard rendered him comely in the governor's eyes and by his influence he obtained a legal right to the great ship called the Queen Anne's Revenge by order of the governor a court of the vice admiralty was held at Bathtown and that vessel was condemned as a lawful prize which he had taken from the Spaniards though it was a well-known fact that she belonged to English merchants before he entered upon his new adventures he married a young woman of about 16 years of age the governor himself attending the ceremony it was reported that this was only his 14th wife about 12 of whom were yet alive and though this woman was young and amiable he behaved towards her in a manner so brutal that it was shocking to all decency and propriety even among his abandoned crew of pirates in his first voyage Blackbeard directed his course to the Bermudas and meeting with two or three English vessels emptied them of their stores and other necessaries and allowed them to proceed he also met with two French vessels bound for Martinique the one light and the other laden with sugar and cocoa he put the men on board the ladder into the former and allowed her to depart he brought the freighted vessel into North Carolina where the governor and Blackbeard shared the prizes nor did their audacity and villainy stop here Teach and some of his abandoned crew waited upon his excellency and swore that they had seized the French ship at sea without a sole on board therefore a court was called and she was condemned the honorable governor received 60 hogs heads of sugar for his share his secretary 20 and the pirates the remainder but as guild always inspires suspicion Teach was afraid that someone might arrive in the harbor who might detect the roguery therefore upon pretense that she was leaky and might sink and so stop up the entrance to the harbor where she lay they obtained the governor's liberty to drag her into the river where she was set on fire and when burnt down to the water her bottom was sunk so that she might never rise in judgment against the governor and his confederates Blackbeard now being in the province of friendship past several months in the river giving and receiving visits from the planters while he traded with the vessels which came to that river sometimes in the way of lawful commerce and sometimes in his own way when he chose to appear the honest man he made fair purchases on equal barter but when this did not suit his necessities or his humor he would rob at pleasure and leave them to seek their redress from the governor and the better to cover his intrigues with his excellency he would sometimes out brave him to his face and administer to him a share of that contempt and insolence which he so liberally bestowed upon the rest of the inhabitants of the province but there are limits to human insolence and depravity the captains of the vessels who frequented that river and had been so often harassed and plundered by Blackbeard secretly consulted with some of the planters what measures to pursue in order to banish such an infamous miscreant from their coasts and to bring him to deserved punishment convinced from long experience that the governor himself to whom it belonged would give no redress they represented the matter to the governor of Virginia and entreated that an armed force might be sent from the men of war lying there either to take or to destroy those pirates who infested their coast upon this representation the governor of Virginia consulted with the captains of the two men of war as to the best measures to be adopted it was resolved that the governor should hire two small vessels which could pursue Blackbeard into all his inlets and creeks that they should be manned from the men of war and the command given to Lieutenant Maynard an experienced and resolute officer when all was ready for his departure the governor called an assembly in which it was resolved to issue a proclamation offering a great reward to any who within a year should take or destroy any pirate upon the 17th of November 1717 Maynard left James's river in quest of Blackbeard and on the evening of the 21st came in sight of the pirate this expedition was fitted out with all possible expedition and secrecy no boat being permitted to pass that might convey any intelligence while care was taken to discover where the pirates were lurking his Excellency the governor of Remuda and his secretary however having obtained information of the intended expedition the latter wrote a letter to Blackbeard intimating that he had sent him four of his men who were all he could meet within or about town and so bad him to be on his guard these men were sent from Bathtown to the place where Blackbeard lay about the distance of twenty leagues the hardened and infatuated pirate having been often deceived by false intelligence was the less attentive to this information nor was he convinced of its accuracy until he saw the sloops sent to apprehend him though he had then only twenty men on board he prepared to give battle Lieutenant Maynard arrived with his sloops in the evening and anchored as he could not venture under cloud of night to go into the place where Blackbeard lay the latter spent the night in drinking with the master of a trading vessel with the same indifference as if no danger had been near nay such was the desperate wickedness of this villain that it is reported during the carousels of that night one of his men asked him in case anything should happen to him during the engagement with the two sloops which were waiting to attack him in the morning whether his wife knew where he had buried all his money when he impiously replied that nobody but himself and the devil knew where it was and the longest liver should take all in the morning Maynard weighed and sent his vote to sound which coming near the pirate received her fire Maynard then hoisted royal colors and made directly towards Blackbeard with every sail and ore in a little time the pirate ran aground and so also did the king's vessels Maynard lightened his vessel of the ballast and water and made towards Blackbeard upon this he hailed him in his own rude style damn you for villains who are you and for whence come you the lieutenant answered you may see from our colors we are no pirates Blackbeard bad him sent his boat on board that he might see who he was but Maynard replied I cannot spare my boat but I will come on board of you as soon as I can with my sloop upon this Blackbeard took a glass of liquor and drank to him saying I'll give no quarter nor take any from you Maynard replied he expected no quarter from him nor should he give him any during this dialogue the pirate's ship floated and the sloops were rowing with all expedition towards him as she came near the pirate fired a broadside charged with all manner of small shot which killed or wounded 20 men Blackbeard's ship in a little after fell broadside to the shore one of the sloops called the ranger also fell astern but Maynard finding that his own sloop had way and would soon be on board of teach ordered all his own men down while himself and the man at the helm who he commanded to lie concealed were the only persons who remained on deck he at the same time desired them to take their pistols cutlasses and swords and be ready for action upon his call and for greater expedition two letters were placed in the hatchway when the king's sloop boarded the pirate's case boxes filled with powder small shot slugs and pieces of lead and iron with a quick match in the mouth of them were thrown into Maynard's sloop fortunately however the men being in the hold they did small injury on the present occasion though they are usually very destructive Blackbeard seeing fewer no hands upon deck cried to his men that they were all knocked on the head except three or four and therefore he said he let us jump on board and cut to pieces those that are alive upon this during the smoke occasioned by one of these case boxes Blackbeard with 14 of his men entered and were not perceived until the smoke was dispelled the signal was given to Maynard's men who rushed up in an instant Blackbeard and the lieutenant exchanged shots and the pirate was wounded they then engaged sword in hand until the sword of the lieutenant broke but fortunately one of his men at that instant gave Blackbeard a terrible wound to the neck and throat the most desperate and bloody conflict ensued Maynard with 12 men and Blackbeard with 14 the sea was dyed with blood all around the vessel and uncommon bravery was displayed upon both sides though the pirate was wounded by the first shot from Maynard though he had received 20 cuts and as many shots he fought with desperate valor but at length when in the act of cocking his pistol fell down dead by this time eight of his men had fallen and the rest being wounded cried out for quarter which was granted as the ringleader was slain the other sloop also attacked the men who remained in the pirate vessels until they also cried out for quarter and such was the desperation of Blackbeard that having small hope of escaping he had placed a negro with a match at the gunpowder door to blow up the ship the moment that he should have been bordered by the king's men in order to involve the whole in general ruin that destructive broadside at the commencement of the action which at first appeared so unlucky was however the means of their preservation from the intended destruction Maynard severed the pirate's head from his body suspended it upon his bowspree end and sailed to Bathtown to obtain medical aid for his wounded men in the pirate sloop several letters and papers were found which Blackbeard would certainly have destroyed previous to the engagement had he not determined to blow her up upon his being taken which disclosed the whole villainy between the honorable governor of Bermuda and his honest secretary on the one hand and the notorious pirate on the other who had now suffered the just punishment of his crimes scarcely was Maynard returned to Bathtown when he boldly went and made free with the sixty hogs heads of sugar in the possession of the governor and the twenty in that of his secretary after his men had been healed at Bathtown the lieutenant proceeded to Virginia with the head of Blackbeard still suspended on his bowspree end as a trophy of his victory to the great joy of all the inhabitants the prisoners were tried condemned and executed and thus all the crew of that infernal miscreant Blackbeard were destroyed except two one of these was taken out of a trading vessel only the day before the engagement in which he received no less than seventy wounds of all which he was cured the other was Israel hands who was master of the Queen Anne's Revenge he was taken at Bathtown being wounded in one of Blackbeard's savage humors one night Blackbeard drinking in his cabin with hands the pilot and another man without any pretense took a small pair of pistols and cocked them under the table which being perceived by the man he went on deck leaving the captain hands and the pilot together when his pistols were prepared he extinguished the candle crossed his arms and fired at his company the one pistol did no execution but the other wounded hands in the knee interrogated concerning the meaning of this he answered with an implication that if he did not now and then kill one of them they would forget who he was hands was eventually tried and condemned but as he was about to be executed a vessel arrived with a proclamation prolonging the time of his majesty's pardon which hands pleading he was saved from a violent and shameful death in the Commonwealth of Pirates he who goes the greatest length of wickedness is looked upon with a kind of envy amongst them as a person of a most extraordinary gallantry he is therefore entitled to be distinguished by some post and if such a one has but courage he must certainly be a great man the hero of whom we are writing was thoroughly accomplished in this way and some of his frolics of wickedness were as extravagant as if he aimed at making his men believe he was a devil incarnate being one day at sea and a little flushed with drink come said he let us make a hell of our own and try how long we can bear it accordingly he with two or three others went down into the hold and closing up all the hatches filled several pots full of brimstone and other combustible matter they then set it on fire and so continued till they were almost suffocated when some of the men cried out for air at length he opened the hatches not a little pleased that he had held out the longest those of his crew who were taken alive told a story which may appear a little incredible that once upon a cruise they found out that they had a man on board more than their crew such a one was seen several days amongst them sometimes below and sometimes upon deck yet no man in the ship could give any account who he was or from whence he came but that he disappeared a little before they were cast away in their great ship and it seems they verily believed it was the devil one would think these things should have induced them to reform their lives but being so many reprobates together they encouraged and spirited one another up in their wickedness to which a continual course of drinking did not a little contribute in Blackbeard's journal which was taken there were several memoranda of the following nature all written with his own hand such a day ramall out our company somewhat sober a damned confusion amongst us rogues applauding great talk of separation so I looked sharp for a prize such a day took one with a great deal of liquor on board so kept the company hot damned hot then all things went well again we shall close the narrative of this extraordinary man's life by an account of the cause why he was denominated Blackbeard he derived his name from his long Blackbeard which like a frightful meteor covered his whole face and terrified all America more than any comet that had ever appeared he was accustomed to twist it with ribbon in small quantities and term them about his ears in time of action he wore a sling over his shoulders with three braces of pistols he stuck lighted matches under his hat which appeared on both sides of his face and eyes naturally fierce and wild made him such a figure that the human imagination cannot form a conception of a fury more terrible and alarming and if he had the appearance and look of a fury his actions corresponded with that character End of Chapter 21 Recorded by Michelle Crandall Fremont, California September 2008 Chapter 22 of The Pirate's Own Book This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org The Pirate's Own Book by Charles Elms Chapter 22 The Exploits, Arrest, and Execution of Captain Charles Vane Charles Vane was one of those who stole away the silver which the Spaniards had fished up from the wrecks of the Gallians in the Gulf of Florida and was at Providence when Governor Rogers arrived there with two men of war All the pirates who were then found at this colony of rogues submitted and received certificates of their pardon except Captain Vane and his crew who, as soon as they saw the men of war enter, slipped their cable set fire to a prize they had in the harbor sailed out with their piratical colors flying and fired at one of the men of war as they went off from the coast Two days after they met with a sloop belonging to Barbados which they took and kept the vessel for their own use putting aboard five and twenty hands with one yates the commander In a day or two they fell in with a small interloping trader with a quantity of Spanish pieces of eight aboard bound for Providence which they also took along with them With these two sloops Vane went to a small island and cleaned where he shared the booty and spent some time in a riotous manner About the latter end of May 1718 Vane and his crew sailed and being in want of provisions they beat up for the windward islands In the way they met with a Spanish sloop bound from Puerto Rico to the Habana which they burnt, stowed the Spaniards into a boat and left them to get to the island by the blaze of their vessel Steering between St. Christopher's and Anguilla they fell in with a brigantine and a sloop freighted with such cargo as they wanted from whom they got provisions for sea-store Some time after this standing to the northward in the track the old English ships take in their voyage to the American colonies they took several ships and vessels which they plundered of what they thought fit and then let them pass About the latter end of August with his consort Yates came off South Carolina and took a ship belonging to Ipswich laden with logwood This was thought convenient enough for their own business and therefore they ordered their prisoners to work and through all the lading overboard But when they had more than half cleared the ship the whim changed and they would not have her So Coggershaw, the captain of the captured vessel had his ship again and he was suffered to pursue his voyage home In this voyage the pirates took several ships and vessels particularly a sloop from Barbados a small ship from Antigua a sloop belonging to Curacao and a large brigantine from Guinea with upwards of ninety negroes aboard The pirates plundered them all and let them go putting the negroes out of the brigantine aboard Yates vessel Captain Vane always treated his consort with very little respect and assumed a superiority over him and his crew regarding the vessel but as a tender to his own This gave them disgust for they thought themselves as good pirates and as great rogues as the best of them So they caballed together and resolved the first opportunity to leave the company and accept of his majesty's pardon or setup for themselves either of which they thought more honorable than to be the servants to Vane The putting aboard so many negroes where there were so few hands to take care of them aggravated the matter though they thought fit to conceal or stifle their resentment at that time In a day or two the pirates lying off at anchor Yates in the evening slipped his cable and put his vessel under sail standing into the shore which when Vane saw he was highly provoked and got his sloop under sail to chase his consort Vane's brigantine selling best he gained ground of Yates and would certainly have come up with them had he had a longer run but just as he got over the bar when Vane came within gunshot of him he fired a broadside at his old friend and so took his leave Yates came into North Edisto River about ten leagues to the southward of Charleston and sent an express to the governor to know if he and his comrades might have the benefit of his majesty's pardon promising that if they might they would surrender themselves to his mercy with the sloops and negroes their request being granted they all came up and received certificates and captain Thompson from whom the negroes were taken had them all restored to him for the use of his owners Vane cruised some time off the bar in hopes to catch Yates at his coming out again but therein he was disappointed however he there took two ships from Charleston which were bound home to England it happened just at this time that two sloops well manned and armed were equipped to go after a pirate which the governor of South Carolina was informed lay then in caped fear river cleaning but Colonel Redd who commanded the sloops meeting with one of the ships that Vane had plundered going back over the bar for such necessities as had been taken from her and she giving the colonel an account of being taken by the pirate Vane and also that some of her men while they were prisoners on board of him had heard the pirate say they should clean in one of the rivers to the southward he altered his first design and instead of standing to the northward in pursuit of the pirate in caped fear river turned to the southward after Vane who had ordered such reports to be given out on purpose to put any force that should come after him upon a wrong scent for he stood away to the northward so that the pursuit proved to be of no effect Colonel Redd speaking with this ship was the most unlucky thing that could have happened because it turned him out of the road which in all probability would have brought him into the company of Vane as well as of the pirate he went after and so they might have both been destroyed whereas by the colonels going a different way he not only lost the opportunity of meeting with one but if the other had not been infatuated and lain six weeks together at caped fear he would have missed him likewise however the colonel having searched the rivers and inlets as directed for several days without success at length seldom prosecution of his first design and met with the pirate accordingly whom he thought and took Captain Vane went into an inlet to the northward where he met with Captain Teach otherwise Blackbeard whom he saluted when he found who he was with his great guns loaded with shot it being the custom among pirates when they meet to do so though they are white of one another Blackbeard answered the salute in the same manner and mutual civilities passed between them some days when about the beginning of October Vane took leave and sailed farther to the northward on the 23rd of October off Long Island he took a small brigantine bound from Jamaica to Salem in New England besides a little sloop they rifled the brigantine and sent her away from thence they resolved on a cruise between Cape Mice and Cape Nicholas where they spent some time without seeing or speaking with any vessel till the latter end of November they then fell in with the ship which it was expected would have struck as soon as their black colors were hoisted but instead of this she discharged a broadside upon the pirate and hoisted French colors which showed her to be a French man of war Vane desired to have nothing more to say to her but trimmed his sails and stood away from the Frenchman however, Monsieur having a mind to be better informed who he was set all his sails and crowded after him during this chase the pirates were divided in their resolution what to do Vane, the captain, was for making off as fast as he could alleging that the men of war was too strong for them to cope with but one John Rackham, their quartermaster and who was a kind of check upon the captain rose up in defense of a contrarian opinion saying that though she had more guns and a greater weight of metal they might board her and then the best boys would carry the day Rackham was well seconded and the majority was for boarding but Vane urged that it was too rash and desperate an enterprise the men of war appearing to be twice their force and that their brigantine might be sunk by her before they could reach to board her the mate, one Robert Dill, was of Vane's opinion as were about fifteen more and all the rest joined with Rackham the quartermaster at length the captain made use of his power to determine this dispute which in these cases is absolute and uncontrollable by their own laws that is the captain's absolute right of determining and all questions concerning fighting chasing or being chased in all other matters whatsoever the captain being governed by a majority so the brigantine having the hills as they term it of the Frenchman she came clear off but the next day the captain's conduct was obliged to stand the test of a vote and a resolution passed against his honor and dignity which branded him the name of coward deposed him from the command and turned him out of the company with marks of infamy and with him went all those who did not vote for boarding the Frenchman of war they had with them a small sloop that had been taken by them some time before which they gave to Vane and the discarded members and that they might be in a condition to provide for themselves by their own honest endeavors they let them have a sufficient quantity of provisions and ammunition John Rackham was voted captain of the brigantine in Vane's room and he proceeded towards the Caribbean islands where we must leave him till we have finished our history of Charles Vane the sloop sailed for the Bay of Honduras and Vane and his crew put her in as good a condition as they could by the way that they might follow their old trade they cruised two or three days off the northwest part of Jamaica and took a sloop and two paraguas all the men of which entered with them the sloop they kept and Robert Dill was appointed captain on the 16th of December the two sloops came into the bay where they found only one vessel at anchor she was called the pearl of Jamaica and got under sail at the site of them but the pirate sloops coming near Roland and showing no colors he gave them a gun or two whereupon they hoisted the black flag and fired three guns each at the pearl she struck and the pirates took possession and carried her away to a small island called Barnacho where they cleaned by the way they met with the sloop from Jamaica as she was going down to the bay which they also took in February Vane sailed from Barnacho for a cruise but some days after he was out a violent tornado overtook him which separated him from his consort and after two days distress threw his sloop upon a small uninhabited island near the bay of Honduras where she staved to pieces and most of her men were drowned Vane himself was saved but reduced to great straits for want of necessaries having no opportunity to get anything from the wreck he lived here some weeks and was supported chiefly by fishermen who frequented the island with small crafts from the main to catch turtles and other fish while Vane was upon this island a ship put in there from Jamaica for water the captain of which one Holford an old buccaneer happened to be Vane's acquaintance he thought this a good opportunity to get off and accordingly apply to his old friend but Holford absolutely refused him saying to him Charles I shan't trust you aboard my ship unless I carry you as a prisoner for I shall have you cabaling with my men knocking me on the head and running away with my ship pirating Vane made all the protestations of honor in the world to him but it seems captain Holford was too intimately acquainted with him to repose any confidence at all in his words or oath he told him he might easily find a way to get off if he had a mind to it I am going down to the bay said he and shall return hither in about a month and if I find you upon the island when I come back I'll carry you to Jamaica and there hang you how can I get away answered Vane are there not fishermen's dories upon the beach can't you take one of them replied Holford what said Vane would you have me still a dory then do you make it a matter of conscience replied Holford distill a dory when you have been a common robber and pirate stealing ships and cargoes and plundering all mankind that fell in your way stay here if you are so squeamish and he left him to consider of the matter after captain Holford's departure another ship put into the same island in her way home for water none of the company knowing Vane he easily passed for another man and so was shipped for the voyage one would be apt to think that Vane was now pretty safe and likely to escape the fate which his crimes had merited but here a cross accident happened that ruined all Holford returning from the bay was met by this ship and the captains being very well acquainted with each other Holford was invited to dine aboard which he did as he passed along to the captain he chanced to cast his eye down into the hold and there saw Charles vane at work he immediately spoke to the captain saying do you know whom you have got aboard there why said he I have shipped a man at such an island who was cast away in a trading sloop and he seems to be a brisk hand I tell you replied captain Holford it is vane the notorious pirate if it be he cried the other I won't keep him why then said Holford I'll send and take him aboard and surrender him at Jamaica this being agreed upon captain Holford as soon as he returned to his ship sent his boat with his mate armed who coming to vane showed him a pistol and told him he was his prisoner no man daring to make opposition he was brought aboard and put into irons and when captain Holford arrived at Jamaica he delivered up his old acquaintance to justice at which place he was tried convicted and executed as was sometime before vane's consort Robert Dill who was brought there by one of the men of war it is clear from this how little ancient friendship will avail a great villain when he is deprived of the power that had before supported and rendered him formidable end of chapter 22