Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/27

Rh by Sea, he was met with, and taken, by ome of thee Pyrates, near the Iland of Pharmacua: Thee Pyrates had a barbarous Cutom of tying their Prioners Back to Back and throwing them into the Sea; but, uppoing Cæar to be ome Peron of a high Rank, becaue of his purple Robes, and the Number of his Attendants, they thought it would be more for their Profit to preerve him, in hopes of receiving a great Sum for his Ranom; therefore they told him he hould have his Liberty, provided he would pay them twenty Talents, which they judg’d to be a very high Demand, in our Money, about three thouand ix hundred Pounds Sterling; he miled, and of his own Accord promied them fifty Talents; they were both pleaed, and urpriz’d at his Anwer, and conented that everal of his Attendants hould go by his Direction and raie the Money; and he was left among thee Ruffians with no more than 3 Attendants. He pas’d eight and thirty Days, and eemed o little concerned or afraid, that often when he went to leep, he ued to charge them not to make a Noie, threatening, if they diturbed him, to hang them all; he alo play’d at Dice with them, and ometimes wrote Veres and Dialogues, which he ued to repeat, and alo caue them to repeat, and if they did not praie and admire them, he would call them Beats and Barbarians, telling them he would crucify them. They took all thee as the Sallies of a juvenile Humour, and were rather diverted, than dipleaed at them.

At length his Attendants return’d with his Ranom, which he paid, and was dicharged; he ail’d for the Port of Miletum, where, as oon as he was arriv’d, he ued all his Art and Indutry in fitting out a Squadron of Ships, which he equipp’d and arm’d at his own Charges; and ailing in Quet of the Pyrates, he urpriz’d them as they lay at Rh