Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/403

 The latter End of July, (1723,) Low took a large Ship, called the Merry Chritmas, and fitted her for a Pyrate, cut everal Ports in her, and mounted her with 34 Guns. Low goes aboard of this Ship, aumes the Title of Admiral, and hoits a black Flag, with the Figure of Death in red, at the Main-topmat Head, and takes another Voyage to the Wetern Ilands, where he arrived the Beginning of September. The firt Veel he met with there, was a Brigantine, formerly an Englih Sloop, commanded by Elias Wild, but lately bought by a Portuguee Nobleman, and altered: She was manned partly with Englih, and partly Portuguee; the latter Low caued to be hang’d, by Way of Reprial, for ome of his own Men ent thither in a Sloop from the Cape de Verd Ilands, as has been mentioned: The Englih Men he thrut into their own Boat, to hift for themelves, and et Fire to the Veel.

At St. Michaels, they ent in their Boats and cut out of the Road, a new London built Ship of 14 Guns, commanded by Captain Thompon, who was taken there the Year before, by Low, in the Roe Pink. The Boats had fewer Men than the Ship, and Captain Thompon would have defended himelf, but his Men through Cowardize, or too great an Inclination of becoming Pyrates themelves, refued to tand by him, and he was obliged to urrender; and when he came aboard the Pyrate, had his Ears cut off cloe to his Head, for only propoing to reit Admiral Low’s black Flag; they gave him one of his own Boats, and burnt his Ship.

The next was a Portuguee Bark that fell into their Hands, whoe Men came off omewhat better than uual, for they only cut them with their Cutlahes, out of Wantonnes, turned them all into their Boat, and et their Veel on Fire. When the Boat was going from the Side of the Ship, one Rh