Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/54

46 Greatnes might hinder the Trade of Europe to the Eat-Indies.

Yet all thee were no more than fale Rumours, improved by the Credulity of ome, and the Humour of others who love to tell trange Things; for, while it was aid, he was apiring at a Crown, he wanted a Shilling; and at the ame Time it was given out he was in Poeion of uch prodigious Wealth in Madagacar, he was tarving in England.

No doubt, but the Reader will have a Curioity of knowing what became of this Man, and what were the true Grounds of o many fale Reports concerning him; therefore, I hall, in as brief a Manner as I can, give his Hitory.

He was born in the Wet of England near Plymouth in Devonhire, being bred to the Sea, he erved as a Mate of a Merchant-Man, in everal trading Voyages: It happened before the Peace of Rywick, when there was an Alliance betwixt Spain, England, Holland, &c. againt France, that the French in Martinico, carried on a mugling Trade with the Spaniards on the Continent of Peru, which by the Laws of Spain, is not allowed to Friends in Time of Peace, for none but native Spaniards are permitted to Traffick in thoe Parts, or et their Feet on Shore, unles at any Time they are brought as Prioners; wherefore they contantly keep certain Ships cruiing along the Coat, whom they call Guarda del Cota, who have the Orders to make Prizes of all hips they can light of within five Leagues of Land. Now the French growing very bold in Trade, and the Spaniards being poorly provided with Ships, and thoe they had being of no Force, it often fell out, that when they light of the French Smuglers, they were not trong enough to attack them, therefore it was reolv’d in Spain, to hire two or three tout foreign Ships for their Service, which being known at Britol, ome Merchants of that City, fitted