_Lowther_ cruised a pretty while among the Islands to no purpose, till at length he fell in with a _Martinico_ Man, which proved a seasonable relief, he being reduced to great want of provisions, and after that a _Guinea_ Man. After which they thought it time to clean, in order to prepare for new adventures; for which purpose they sailed to the Island of _Blanco_, which is a low Island 30 leagues from the main of _Spanish America_, where he unrigged his Sloop, sending his guns, rigging, and sails ashore, and putting his vessel upon the careen. But the _Eagle_ Sloop of _Barbadoes_, coming near this Island, and seeing her, supposing her to be a Pirate, took the advantage of attacking her when unprepared, who immediately hoisted the _St. George's_ Flag at her top-mast head to bid them defiance: But when they found the _Eagle_ resolved to board them in good earnest, the Pirates cut their cable, and hawled the stern on shore, which obliged the _Eagle_ to come to an anchor athwart the hawse, where they engaged them till they cried out for Quarters. At which time _Lowther_ and 12 men made their escape, but they took the rest, and brought them to _Camena_, where the _Spanish_ Governor condemned the Sloop to the captors, and sent 23 Hands to scour the Bushes of _Blanco_ for the Pirates, when they took 40; but could not find _Lowther_, three men and a little Boy. _John Churchill_, _Edward Mackonald_, _Nicholas Lewis_, _Rich. West_, _Sam Lavercot_, _Rob. White_, _John Shaw_, _And. Hunter_, _Jonathan Delve_, _Matthew Freeborn_, and _Henry Watson_, were hanged, _Roger Granger_, _Ralph Candem_, and _Robert Willis_, were acquitted. And Captain _Lowther_, it is said, afterwards shot himself, being found dead, and a pistol burst by his side. [Illustration] [Illustration] CAPTAIN ANSTIS, AND HIS CREW _Thomas Anstis_ shipped himself at _Providence_, in the Year 1718, aboard the _Buck_ Sloop, and was one of the six that conspired together to get off with the vessel, along with _Howel Davis_, _Dennis Topping_, and _Walter Kennedy_, etc. I shall only observe, that this combination was the beginning of Captain _Roberts's_ company, which afterwards proved so formidable, from whom _Anstis_ separated the 18th of _April_, 1721, leaving his Commodore to pursue his adventures upon the Coasts of _Guinea_, whilst he returned to the _West Indies_, upon the same design. About the middle of _June_, he met with one Captain _Maiston_, between _Hispaniola_ and _Jamaica_, bound to _New-York_, from which he took all the wearing apparel, liquors and provisions, and six men. Afterwards he met with the _Irwin_, Captain _Ross_ from _Cork_, on the Coast of _Martinico_, which ship had Colonel _Doyly_ of _Montserrat_ on board, and his Family, and 600 barrels of beef.