rel="nofollow" href="#u51923f49-fada-5b40-b70c-aaf9c51d80c9">Chap. V. Of Capt. Edward England, And his Crew
Chap. VI. Of Captain Charles Vane, And his Crew
Chap. VII. Of Captain John Rackam, And his Crew
Chap. VIII. The Life of Mary Read, And Anne Bonny
Chap. IX. Of Captain Howel Davis, And his Crew
Chap. X. Of Captain Bartho. Roberts, And his Crew
Chap. XI. Of Captain Anstis, And his Crew
Chap. XII. Of Captain Worley, And his Crew
Chap. XIII. Of Capt. George Lowther, And his Crew
Chap. XIV. Of Captain Edward Low, And his Crew
Chap. XV. Of Capt. John Evans, And his Crew
Chap. XVI. Of Captain John Phillips, And his Crew
Chap. XVII. Of Captain Spriggs, And his Crew
Chap. XVIII. An Account of the Pyracies and Murders committed by Philip Roche, &c.
Chap. XIX. An Abstract of the Civil Law and Statute Law now in Force, in Relation to Pyracy
Chap. XXI. Of Capt. JOHN Bowen
Chap. XXII. Of Capt. WILLIAM KID
Chap. XXIII. Of Captain Tew, And his Crew
Chap. XXIV. Of Capt. Halsey, And his Crew
Chap. XXV. Of Captain Thomas White, And his Crew
Chap. XXVI. Of Captain Condent, And his Crew
Chap. XXVII. A Description of Magadoxa
Chap. XXVIII. Of Capt. Bellamy
Chap. XXIX. Of Captain William Fly, And his Crew
Chap. XXX. Of Capt. Thomas Howard, And his Crew
Chap. XXXI. Of Captain Lewis. And his Crew
Chap. XXXII. Of Captain Cornelius, And his Crew
Chap. XXXIII. Of Capt. David Williams, And his Crew
Chap. XXXIV. Of Capt. Samuel Burgess, And his Crew
I. Of Capt. Nathaniel North, And his Crew
VI. The Trial of the Pyrates at Providence
The Preface
Having taken more than ordinary Pains in collecting the Materials which compose the following History, we could not be satisfied with our selves, if any Thing were wanting to it, which might render it entirely satisfactory to the Public: It is for this Reason we have subjoined to the Work, a short Abstract of the Laws now in Force against Pyrates, and made Choice of some particular Cases, (the most curious we could meet with) which have been heretofore tried, by which it will appear what Actions have, and what have not been adjudged Pyracy.
It is possible this Book may fall into the Hands of some Masters of Ships, and other honest Mariners, who frequently, by contrary Winds or Tempests, or other Accidents incident to long Voyages, find themselves reduced to great Distresses, either through Scarcity of Provisions, or Want of Stores. I say, it may be a Direction to such as those, what Lengths they may venture to go, without violating the Law of Nations, in Case they should meet other Ships at Sea, or be cast on some inhospitable Shore, which should refuse to trade with them for such Things as are absolutely necessary for the Preservation of their Lives, or the Safety of the Ship and Cargo.
We have given a few Instances in the Course of this History of the Inducements Men have to engage themselves headlong in a Life of so much Peril to themselves, and so destructive to the Navigation of the trading World; to remedy which Evil there seems to be but two Ways, either to find Employment for the great Numbers of Seamen turn'd adrift at the Conclusion of a War, and thereby prevent their running into such Undertakings, or to guard sufficiently the Coast of Africa, the West-Indies, and other Places whereto Pyrates resort.
I cannot but take Notice in this Place, that during this long Peace, I have not so much as heard of a Dutch Pyrate: It is not that I take them to be honester than their Neighbours; but when we account for it, it will, perhaps, be a Reproach to our selves for our want of Industry: The Reason I take to be, that after a War, when the Dutch Ships are laid up, they have a Fishery, where their Seamen find immediate Business, and as comfortable Bread as they had before. Had ours the same Recourse in their Necessities, I'm certain we should find the same Effect from it; for a Fishery