Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/55

Rh fitted out two Ships of thirty odd Guns, and 120 Hands each, well furnihed with Proviion audand [sic] Ammunition, and all other Stores; and the Hire being agreed for, by ome Agents for Spain, they were commanded to ail for Corunna or the Groine, there to receive their Orders, and to take on Board ome Spanih Gentlemen, who were to go Paengers to New-Spain.

Of one of thee Ships, which I take to be call’d the Duke, Capt. Gibon Commander, Avery was firt Mate, and being a Fellow of more Cunning than Courage, he ininuated himelf into the good Will of everal of the boldet Fellows on Board the other Ship, as well as that which he was on Board of; having ounded their Inclinations before he opened himelf, and finding them ripe for his Deign, he, at length, propoed to them, to run away with the Ship, telling them what great Wealth was to be had upon the Coats of India. It was no ooner aid than agreed to, and they reolved to execute their Plot at Ten a Clock the Night following.

It mut be oberv’d, the Captain was one of thoe who are mightily addicted to Punch, o that he paed mot of his Time on Shore, in ome little drinking Ordinary; but this Day he did not go on Shore as uual; however, this did not poil the Deign, for he took his uual Doe on Board, and o got to Bed before the Hour appointed for the Buines: The Men alo who were not privy to the Deign, turn’d into their Hammocks, leaving none upon Deck but the Conpirators, who, indeed, were the greatet Part of the Ship’s Crew. At the Time agreed on, the Dutches’s Long-Boat appear’d, which Avery hailing in the uual Manner, was anwered by the Men in her, Which was the Watch-Word agreed between them, and Avery replying in the Affirmative, the Boat came