Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/239

 about to throw him over-board, when they found him in the Sloop, as fearing he might betray them all, at their return to England; he having in his Childhood been bred a Pick-pocket, and before he became a Pyrate, a Houe-breaker; both Profeions that thee Gentlemen have a very mean Opinion of. However, Captain Kennedy, by taking olemn Oaths of Fidelity to his Companions, was uffered to proceed with them.

In this Company there was but one that pretended to any kill in Navigation, (for Kennedy could neither write nor read, he being preferred to the Command merely for his Courage, which indeed he had often ignaliz’d, particularly in taking the Portuguee Ship,) and he proved to be a Pretender only; for haping their Coure to Ireland, where they agreed to land, they ran away to the North-Wet Coat of Scotland, and there were tot about by hard Storms of Wind for everal Days, without knowing where they were, and in great Danger of perihing: At length they puhed the Veel into a little Creek, and went all ahore, leaving the Sloop at an Anchor for the next Comers.

The whole Company refreh’d themelves at a little Village about five Miles from the Place where they left the Sloop, and paed there for Ship-wreck’d Sailors, and no doubt might have travelled on without Supicion; but the mad and riotous Manner of their Living on the Road, occaion’d their Journey to be cut hort, as we hall oberve preently.

Kennedy and another left them here, and travelling to one of the Sea-Ports, hip’d themelves for Ireland, and arrived there in Safety. Six or even wiely withdrew from the ret, travelled at their leaure, and got to their much deired Port of London, without being diturbed or upected; but the