The History of the Pyrates. Vol. II.: Containing the lives of Captain Misson, Captain Bowen, Captain Kidd, Captain Tew, Captain Halsey, Captain White, Captain Condent, Captain Bellamy, Captain Fly, Captain Howard, Captain Lewis, Captain Cornelius, Captain Williams, Captain Burgess, Captain North, and their several crewsDefoe, Daniel
History
The History of the Pyrates. Vol. II.: Containing the lives of Captain Misson, Captain Bowen, Captain Kidd, Captain Tew, Captain Halsey, Captain White, Captain Condent, Captain Bellamy, Captain Fly, Captain Howard, Captain Lewis, Captain Cornelius, Captain Williams, Captain Burgess, Captain North, and their several crews
Defoe, Daniel
Pirates -- Early works to 1800
From hence he steer'd to the _Malabar_ Coast, where he met _Bowen_ in
his Prize, which mounted 56 Guns; here a Dispute arose, as shall be
mention'd in the Appendix of _Bowen_'s Life, both Crews went on board
_Bowen_, sunk the _Prosperous_, and burnt the _Scotch_ Ship, called the
_Speedy Return_: Hence they stood along the Coast of _India_, and
_Howard_, with about 20 more, landed with what they had, and retired
among the Natives, where _Howard_ married a Woman of the Country, and
being a morose ill natur'd Fellow, and using her ill, he was murder'd by
her Relations.
OF
Captain _LEWIS_.
And his CREW.
This worthy Gentleman was an early Pyrate; we first find him a Boy on
Board the Pyrate _Banister_, who was hang'd at the Yard Arm of a Man of
War in sight of _Port-Royal_ in _Jamaica_. This _Lewis_ and another Boy
were taken with him, and brought into the Island hanging by the Middle
at the Mizzen-Peak. He had a great Aptitude for Languages, and spoke
perfectly well that of the _Mosquill Indians_, the _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 Original.
He sailed out of _Jamaica_ till he was a lusty Lad, and was then taken
by the _Spaniards_ at the _Havana_, where he staid some Time; but at
length he and six more ran away with a small Canoe, and surprized a
_Spanish_ Periagua, out of which two Men joined them, so that they were
now nine in Company: With this Periagua they suprized a Turtleing Sloop,
and forced some of the Hands to take on with them, the others they sent
away in the Periagua.
He play'd at this small Game, surprising and taking Coasters and
Turtlers, till with forced Men and Voluntiers he made up a Complement of
40 Men.
With these he took a large Pink built Ship, bound from _Jamaica_ to the
Bay of _Campeachy_, and after her several others bound to the said Bay;
and having Intelligence that there lay in the Bay a fine _Bermudas_
built Brigantine of 10 Guns, commanded by Captain _Tucker_; he sent the
Captain of the Pink to him with a Letter, the Purport of which was, that
he wanted such a Brigantine, and if he would part with her, he would pay
him honestly 10000 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 shewn the Letter, that if they would made him up 54 Men (for
there were about 10 _Bermudas_ Sloops) he would go out and fight the
Pyrates. 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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