one of the Men of War. CHAP. VII. OF Captain _John Rackam_, And his CREW. THIS _John Rackam_, as has been mentioned in the last Chapter, was Quarter-Master to _Vane_'s Company, till they were divided, and _Vane_ turned out for refusing to board and fight the _French_ Man of War; then _Rackam_ was voted Captain of that Division that remained in the Brigantine. The 24th of _November_ 1718, was the first Day of his Command, and his first Cruize was among the _Caribbee Islands_, where he took and plunder'd several Vessels. We have already taken Notice, that when Captain _Woodes Rogers_ went to the Island of _Providence_, with the King's Pardon to such as should surrender, this Brigantine, which _Rackam_ now commanded, made its Escape, thro' another Passage, bidding Defiance to Mercy. To Windward of _Jamaica_, a _Madera_ Man fell into the Pyrates Way, which they detained two or three Days, till they had made their Market out of her, and then gave her back to the Master, and permitted one _Hosea Tisdell_, a Tavern-Keeper at _Jamaica_, who had been pick'd up in one of their Prizes, to depart in her, she being then bound for that Island. After this Cruize, they went into a small Island and cleaned, and spent their _Christmas_ ashore, drinking and carousing as long as they had any Liquor left, and then went to Sea again for more, where they succeeded but too well, though they took no extraordinary Prize, for above two Months, except a Ship laden with Thieves from _Newgate_, bound for the Plantations, which, in a few Days, was retaken with all her Cargo, by an _English_ Man of War. _Rackam_ stood off towards the Island of _Burmudas_, and took a Ship bound to _England_ from _Carolina_, and a small Pink from _New-England_, and brought them to the _Bahama_ Islands, where with the Pitch, Tar, and Stores, they clean'd again, and refitted their own Vessel; but staying too long in that Neighbourhood, Captain _Rogers_, who was Governor of _Providence_, hearing of these Ships being taken, sent out a Sloop well mann'd and arm'd, which retook both the Prizes, and in the mean while the Pyrate had the good Fortune to escape.