Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/10

 they might be as ure of finding the Pyrates, as the Pyrates are to find the Merchant Ships; and if the Pyrates are not to be met with by the Men of War in uch a Latitude, then urely down the ame Latitude may the Merchant Ships arrive afely to their Port.

To make this a little plainer to my Country Readers, I must oberve that all our outward bound Ships, ometime after they leave the Land, teer into the Latitude of the Place they are bound to; if to the Wet-India Ilands, or any Part of the Main of America, as New-York, New-England, Virginia, &c. becaue the Latitude is the only Certainty in thoe Voyages to be found, and then they ail due Wet, till they come to their Port, without altering their Coure. In this Wet Way lie the Pyrates, whether it be to Virginia, &c. or Nevis, St. Chritophers, Monterat, Jamaica, &c. o that if the Merchant Ships bound thither, do not fall a Prey to them one Day, they must another: Therefore I ay, if the Men of War take the ame Track, the Pyrates mut unavoidably fall into their Mouths, or be frighted away, for where the Game is, there will the Vermin be; if the latter hould be the Cae, the trading Ships, as I aid before, will pas unmoleted and afe, and the Pyrates be reduced to take Refuge in ome of their lurking Holes about the uninhabited Ilands, where their Fate would be like that of the Fox in his Den, if they hould venture out, they would be hunted and taken, and if they tay within they mut tarve.

I must oberve another Thing, that the Pyrates generally hift their Rovings, according to the Seaon of the Year; in the Summer they cruie motly along the Coat of the Continent of America, but the Winters there, being a little too cold for them, they follow the Sun, and go towards the Ilands, at the approach of cold Weather. Every Man who has ued the Wet-India Trade, knows this to be true; therefore, ince we are o well acquainted with all their Motions, I cannot ee why our Men of War under a proper Regulation, may not go to the Southward, intead of lying up all the Winter ueles: But I hall proceed too far Rh