who
suddenly appeared on the Massachusetts coast. In 1711 he had commanded
a vessel in the unfortunate expedition against Quebec under Sir
Hovenden Walker, and the admiral had stayed at his house during his
long detention in Boston. He was also the most noted map-maker of his
time in New England; in 1694 King William had admitted him to kiss his
hands and had given him a gold chain of L50 for his map of
Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and the St. Lawrence region (_Acts. P.C.
Col._, II. 264). The governor whom he addresses was Samuel Shute,
governor 1716-1727. The ending of the War of the Spanish Succession
(1713) had as usual caused a large revival of piracy, many privateers
turning to that trade. The career of the _Whidah_ and of Capt. Samuel
Bellamy can be made out from the depositions which follow. On April
26, in a heavy gale, she had come ashore on the sands of Cape Cod, in
what is now Wellfleet, and all on board but two men (see doc. no. 114)
were drowned. More than a hundred of the pirates thus perished. Of
those who escaped wreck, in the smaller vessels, several, who had
constituted the prize crew of the _Mary Anne_ (doc. no. 109), were
captured, tried, and executed (doc. no. 112). The story is told in
_The Trials of Eight Persons Indited for Piracy_, etc. (Boston, 1718),
and by Mr. John H. Edmonds in the _Boston Sunday Globe_ for Oct. 22,
1916.]

CAPE COD HARBOUR[2] May [5?] 1717

[Footnote 2: Southack had come across from Boston into the inner side
of the Cape.]

_Maye itt Pleass Your Excellency_

_Sir_, may 2 at 1 After noon I Came to Anchor here, finding Serveral
Vessells, Visseted them and on board one of them found a Yung man
boling[3] to the Ship the Pirritt[4] Took 26 April in South Channell,
Saileing from Nantaskett the Day before at 3 After noon. April 26
Pirritt Ship Took a Sloop in South Channell, Lading with West India
Goods, Sloop or Master I no not as Yett.[5] at 7 After noon the
Pirrett Ship with her Tender, being a Snow a bout Ninty Tuns they Took
in Latitude 26 deg., 15 Days agoe,[6] maned with 15 of Pirritts men, wine
Ship and Sloop all to Gather Standing to the Northward. at 12 Night
the Pirritt Ship and wine Ship Run a Shore, the Snow and Sloop Gott
Off Shore, being Sen the Next morning in the Offen.[7]

[Footnote 3: Belonging. Spelling was not one of the captain's many
accomplishments. For facsimiles of his handwriting, see _Memorial
History of Boston_, II. liv, 98.]

[Footnote 4: Pira