1 



The InTRODUCTIO N. 7f 



•make a Fortune, generally Countenance all Prp-» 

 ceedings that bring m Profit : They grant Com- 

 miiTions to great Mumbers of Veffels of War, on 

 Pretence of preventing an mterloping Trade, with 

 Orders to leize all Ships or VelTels whatfbever, 

 within five Leagues ot their Coafls, which our E-rjg^ 

 iijii Sh^ps cannot well avoid coming, in their Voyage 

 to "Jamaica. But if the Spantjlj Captains chance to 

 exceed this Com million, and rob and plunder at 

 'Difcretion, the Sufferers are allowed to complain, 

 and exhibit a Procefs in their Court, and after great 

 Expence of Suit, Delay of Time, and other Incoii- 

 veniencies, obtain a Decree in their Favour, but 

 then when the Shi;p and Cargo ccmes to be claim'd, 

 with Cofts of Suit, they find, to their Sorrow, 

 that it has been previoufly condemned, and the 

 Plunder divided amons: the Crew i the Comman- 

 der that made the Capture, who alone is refpon- 

 fible, is found to be a poor raskatly Fellow, not 

 worth a Groat, and, no doubt, is plac'd in that 

 Station for the like Purpofes. 



The frequent Loffes fuftainM by our Merchants 

 abroad, by thefe Pyrates, was Provocation enough 

 to attempt fomething by way of Reprifal and a 

 fair Opportunity offering it lelf in the Year ivid", 

 "the Traders -^f the WeB-Indles^ took Care not to flip 

 it over, but made the beft Uieof it their Circum- 

 -fiances would permit. 



It was about two Years before, that the Sfan^p, 

 Galleons, or Plate Fleer, had been cafl: away in 

 the Gulf of Florida^ and feveral Veffels from the 

 Havana^ were at work, with diving Engines, to fiiii 

 xip the Silver that was on board the Gallecn:^. 

 ' 'The Sfantards hiid recovered l<^me Millions of 

 Pieces of E'ght, and had carried it all to the Ha-- 

 'vana-^ but thev had at prefent about 350000 Piec^te 

 pf Ei^ht in Silver, then uf>onthe Spot, and xvere 



daily 



