chain round his neck, with a diamond cross
hanging to it, a sword in his hand, and two pair of pistols hanging at
the end of a silk sling flung over his shoulders, according to the
custom of the pirates. He is said to have given his orders with boldness
and spirit. Coming, according to what he had purposed, close to the
man-of-war, he received her fire, and then hoisted his black flag and
returned it, shooting away from her with all the sail he could pack; and
had he taken Armstrong's advice to have gone before the wind, he had
probably escaped; but keeping his tacks down, either by the wind's
shifting, or ill steerage, or both, he was taken aback with his sails,
and the Swallow came a second time very nigh to him. He had now,
perhaps, finished the fight very desperately, if death, who took a swift
passage in a grape shot, had not interposed, and struck him directly on
the throat. He settled himself on the tackles of a gun; which one
Stephenson, from the helm, observing, ran to his assistance, and not
perceiving him wounded, swore at him, and bade him stand up and fight
like a man; but when he found his mistake, and that his captain was
certainly dead, he burst into tears, and wished the next shot might be
his portion. They presently threw him overboard, with his arms and
ornaments on, according to his repeated request in his life-time.
This extraordinary man and daring pirate was tall, of a dark complexion,
about 40 years of age, and born in Pembrokeshire. His parents were
honest and respectable, and his natural activity, courage, and
invention, were superior to his education. At a very early period, he,
in drinking, would imprecate vengeance upon "the head of him who ever
lived to wear a halter." He went willingly into the pirate service, and
served three years as a second man. It was not for want of employment,
but from a roving, wild, and boisterous turn of mind. It was his usual
declaration, that, "In an honest service, there are commonly low wages
and hard labor; in this,--plenty, satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty,
and power; and who would not balance creditor on this side, when all the
hazard that is run for it at worst, is only a sour look or two at
choking? No,--a merry life and a short one, shall be my motto!" But it
was one favorable trait in his character, that he never forced any man
into the pirate service.
The prisoners were strictly guarded while on board, and being conveyed
to Cape Coast castle, t
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