Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/402

 From the Coat of New-England, Low ailed directly for Newfoundland, and, near Cape Briton, took two or three and twenty French Veels; and one of them of 22 Guns he mann’d with Pyrates, making a ort of a Man of War of her; with which he cower’d the Harbours and Banks of Newfoundland, and took ixteen or eighteen other Ships and Veels, all which they plundered, and ome detroyed.

Thus thee inhumane Wretches went on, who could not be contented to atisfy their Avarice only, and travel in the common Road of Wickednes; but, like their Patron, the Devil, mut make Michief their Sport, Cruelty their Delight, and damning of Souls their contant Employment. Of all the pyratical Crews that were ever heard of, none of the Englih Name came up to this, in Barbarity; their Mirth and their Anger had much the ame Effect, for both were uually gratified with the Cries and Groans of their Prioners; o that they almot as often murthered a Man from the Exces of good Humour, as out of Paion and Reentment; and the Unfortunate could never be aured of Safety from them, for Danger lurked in their very Smiles. An Intance of this had liked to have happened to one Captain Graves, Mater of a Virginia Ship lat taken; for as oon as he came aboard of the Pyrate, Low takes a Bowl of Punch in his Hand, and drinks to him, aying, But the poor Gentleman being too enibly touched at the Mifortune of falling into his Hands, modetly deired to be excued, for that he could not drink; whereupon Low draws out a Pitol, cocks it, and with the Bowl in ’tother Hand, told him, he hould either take one or the other: So Graves, without Heitation, made Choice of the Vehicle that contained the Punch, and guttled down about a Quart, when he had the leat Inclination that ever he had in his Life to be merry.