Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/87

 their Fears of her ever riing in Judgment againt them.

Captain Teach, alias Black-beard, paed three or four Months in the River, ometimes lying at Anchor in the Coves, at other Times ailing from one Inlet to another, trading with uch Sloops as he met, for the Plunder he had taken, and would often give them Preents for Stores and Proviions took from them; that is, when he happened to be in a giving Humour; at other Times he made bold with them, and took what he liked, without aying, by your Leave, knowing well, they dared not end him a Bill for the Payment. He often diverted himelf with going ahore among the Planters, where he revelled Night and Day: By thee he was well received, but whether out of Love or Fear, I cannot ay; ometimes he ued them courteouly enough, and made them Preents of Rum and Sugar, in Recompence of what he took from them; but, as for Liberties (which ’tis aid) he and his Companions often took with the Wives and Daughters of the Planters, I cannot take upon me to ay, whether he paid them ad Valorem, or no. At other Times he carried it in a lordly Manner towards them, and would lay ome of them under Contribution; nay, he often proceeded to bully the Governor, not, that I can dicover the leat Caue of Quarrel betwixt them, but it eemed only to be done, to hew he dared do it.

The Sloops trading up and down this River, being o frequently pillaged by Black-beard, conulted with the Traders, and ome of the bet of the Planters, what Coure to take; they, aw plainly it would be in vain to make any Application to the Governor of North-Carolina, to whom it properly belonged to find ome Redres; o that if they could not be relieved from ome other ter