91 



mmmmmmmm^mmmmmmm 



CHAP. IV. 



OF 



Major Stede Bonnet^ 



And his Cr ew. 



TH E Major was a Gentleman of good Re- 

 putation in the Ifland of Barbadoes^ was 

 Mafter of a plentiful Fortune, and had 

 the Advantage of a liberal Education. He had the 

 leaft Temptation of any Man to follow fuch aCourfe 

 of Life, from the Condition of his Circumftances. 

 It was very furprizing to every one, to hear of 

 the Major's Enterprize, in the Ifland were he 

 liv'd ^ and as he was generally efteem'd and honour- 

 ed, before he broke out into open Afts of Pyracy, 

 fo he was afterwards rather pitty'd than condem- 

 ned, by thofe that were acquainted with him, 

 believing that this Humour of going a pyrating, 

 proceeded from a Difbrder in his Mind, which 

 had been but too vifible in him, fbme Time before 

 this wicked Undertaking ^ and which is faid to 

 have been occafioned by Ibme Difcomforts he 

 found in a married State \ be that as it will, the 

 Major was but ill qualify 'd for the Bufmefs, as 

 not underftanding maritime xA {fairs. 



However, he fitted out a Sloop with ten Guns 

 and 70 Men, entirely at his own Expence, and in 

 the Night-Time failed from Barhadoes. He called 

 his Sloop the 'Revenge his fir ft Cruize was off the 

 Cajes of Firginiay where he took leveral Ships, 

 and plundered them of their Provifions, Cloaths, 



J Money, 



