their oars, and row’d for their lives, and thereby got clear of their enemy.

The Hector landed her men upon the island, and took 40 of the Morning Star’s crew, without any resistance made by them; but on the contrary, alleging, they were forc’d men, and that they were glad of this opportunity to escape from the pirates; the rest hid themselves in the woods, and could not be found. George Bradley the master, and three more, surrender’d afterwards to a Bermuda sloop, and were carried to that island.

The brigantine, after her escape, sail’d to a small island near the Bay of Honduras, to clean and refit, and, in her way thither, took a Rhode Island sloop, Captain Durfey, Commander, and two or three other vessels, which they destroy’d, but brought all the hands aboard their own.

While she was cleaning, a scheme was concerted between Captain Durfey, some other prisoners, and two or three of the pirates, for to seize some of the chiefs, and carry off the brigantine; but the same being discovered before she was fit for sailing, their design was prevented: however, Captain Durfey, and four or five more, got ashore with some arms and ammunition; and when the pirates canoe came in for water, he seiz’d the boat with the men; upon which Anstis ordered another boat to be mann’d with 30 hands and sent ashore, which was accordingly done; but Captain Durfey, and the company he had by that time got together, gave them such a warm reception, that they were contented to betake themselves to their vessel again.

About the beginning of , Anstis left this place and return’d to the islands, designing to accumulate all the power and strength he could, since there was no looking back. He took in the cruise a good ship, commanded by Captain Smith, which he mounted with 24 guns, and Fenn, a one-handed man, who commanded the Morning Star when she was lost, went aboard to command her. They cruis’d together, and took a vessel or two, and then went to the Bahama Islands, and there met with what they wanted, viz. a sloop loaded with provisions, from Dublin, called the Antelope.

It was time now to think of some place to fit up and clean their frigate lately taken, and put her in a condition to do business; accordingly they pitch’d upon the island of Tobago, where they arrived the beginning of , with the Antelope sloop and her cargo.

They fell to work immediately, got the guns, stores, and everything else out upon the island, and put the ship upon the heel; and just then, as ill luck would have it, came in the Winchelsea man-of-war, by way of visit, which put the marooners into such a surprise, that they set fire to the ship and sloop, and fled ashore to the woods. Anstis, in the brigantine, escap’d, by having a light pair of heels, but it put his company into such a disorder, that their government could never be set to rights again; for some of the newcomers, and those who had been tir’d with the trade, put an end to the reign, by shooting Tho. Anstis in his hammock, and afterwards the quartermaster, and two or three others; the rest submitting, they put into irons, and surrender’d them up, and the vessel, at Curaçao, a Dutch settlement, where they were try’d and hang’d; and those concerned in delivering up the vessel, acquitted.

But to return to Captain Fenn, he was taken straggling with his gunner and three more, a day or two after their misfortune, by the man-of-war’s men, and carry’d to Antigua, where they were all executed, and Fenn hang’d in chains. Those who remain’d, stayed some time in the island, keeping up and down in the woods, with a hand to look out; at length providence so order’d it, that a small sloop came into the harbour, which they all got aboard of, except two or three Negroes, and those they left behind. They did not think fit to pursue any further adventures, and therefore unanimously resolved to steer for England, which they accordingly did, and in October last came into Bristol Channel, sunk the sloop, and getting ashore in the boat, dispersed themselves to their abodes.

XI

Of Captain Worley, and His Crew

His reign was but short, but his beginning somewhat particular, setting out in a small open boat, with eight others, from New York. This was as resolute a crew as ever went upon this account: they took with them a few biscuits, and a dry’d tongue or two, a little keg of water, half a dozen old muskets and ammunition accordingly. Thus provided, they left New York the latter end of , but it cannot be supposed that such a man-of-war as this, could undertake any considerable voyage, or attempt any extraordinary enterprise; so they stood down the coast, till they came to Delaware River, which is about 150 miles distant, and not meeting with anything in their way, they turn’d up the same river as high as Newcastle, near which place they fell upon a shallop belonging to George Grant, who was bringing household goods, plate, etc. from oppoquenimi to Philadelphia; they made prize of the most valuable part of them, and let the shallop go. This fact could not come under the article of piracy, it not being committed super altum mare, upon the high sea, therefore was a simple robbery only; but they did not stand for a point of law in the case, but easing the shallop man of his lading, the bold adventurers went down the river again.

The shallop came straight to Philadelphia, and brought the ill news thither, which so alarm’d the government, as if war had been declared against them; expresses were sent to New York, and other places, and several vessels fitted out

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