Chap. I. Of Captain _Avery_. II. The Rise of Pyrates. III. Of Captain _Martel_. IV. Of Captain _Bonnet_. V. Of Captain _Thatch_. VI. Of Captain _Vane_. VII. Of Captain _Rackam_. VIII. Of Captain _England_. IX. Of Captain _Davis_. X. Of Captain _Roberts_. XI. Of Captain _Worley_. XII. Of Captain _Lowther_. XIII. Of Captain _Low_. XIV. Of Captain _Evans_. And their several Crews. To which is added, A short ABSTRACT of the Statute and Civil Law, in Relation to PYRACY. By Captain CHARLES JOHNSON. _LONDON_, Printed for _Ch. Rivington_ at the _Bible_ and _Crown_ in St. _Paul’s Church-Yard_, _J. Lacy_ at the _Ship_ near the _Temple-Gate_, and _J. Stone_ next the _Crown_ Coffee-house the back of _Greys-Inn_, 1724. ] CHAPTER I THE BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH PIRACY “As in all lands where there are many people, there are some theeves, so in all Seas much frequented, there are some Pyrats.” So wrote Capt. John Smith, the one-time Admiral of New England, when commenting in 1630 on the “bad life, qualities and conditions of Pyrats,”[1] and this characterization remained true for many years after his day. Piracy was as old as the art of transportation by water and until suppressed by force in comparatively recent times it was a favorite trade among seamen when times were hard or temptations great. The reign of Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603) was characterized by a great development of the maritime power of England. This was the time when Drake and Hawkins and other great navigators fought with the ships of Spain and brought fame and fortune to English seamen. Much of the fighting at sea, however, was but little removed from freebooting and it is now difficult to judge what was legalized warfare and what was piratical capture. Notwithstanding the frequent opportunity for brave men to attack rich Spanish ships common piracy flourished and in 1563 there were over four hundred known pirates sailing the four seas.[2]