Of Capt. Edward Low. 389 



The latter End of July^ (1723,) Low took a large 

 Ship, called the Merry Chriflmasy and fitted her for 

 a Pyrate, cut leveral Ports in her, and mounted 

 her with 34 Guns. Low goes aboard of this Ship, 

 affumes the Title of Admiral, and hoifts a black 

 Flag, with the Figure of Death in red, at thfe 

 Main-topmaft Head^ and takes another Voyage to 

 the IVe/tern JJlartds^ where he arrived the Beginning 

 of September. The firft Veffel he met with there, 

 was a Brigantine, formerly an EngUjh Sloop, com- 

 manded by Elias Wild^ but lately bought by a For* 

 tuguefe Nobleman, and altered: She was manned 

 partly with ErjgUJh^ and partly Portuguefe ^ the lat- 

 ter Low caufed to be hang'd, by Way of Reprilal,- 

 for fotne of his own Men fent thither in a Sloop 

 from the Cape de Verd Iflands, as has been mention- 

 ed-: The Englijh Men he thruft into their own Boat, 

 to fliift for themfelves, and let Fire to the VefTeK 



At'St. Michael Sy they lent in their Boats and cyt 

 out of the Road, anew London built Ship of 14 

 Guns, commanded by Captain TToompfony who was 

 taken^there the Year before, by Low, in the Rofe 

 Pink. The Boats had fewer Men than the Ship, 

 and Captain Thompfon "would have defended him- 

 lelf, but his Men through Cowardize, or too great 

 an Inclination of becoming Pyrates themfelves, re- 

 fufed to itand by him, and he was obliged to fur* 

 render • and when he came aboard the Pyrate, had 

 his Ears cut off clofe to his Head, for only pro- 

 pofing to refift Admiral Xojp's black Flagi^ they 

 e;ave him one of his own Boats, and burnt his 

 Ship. 



The next was a Vortuguefe Bark that fell Into 

 their Hands, whole Men came off fomewhat bet- 

 ter than ufual, for they only cut them with their 

 Cutlaflies, out of Wantonnefs, turned them all into 

 their Boat, and let their Veffel on Fire, When 

 the Boat was going from the Side of the Ship, one 



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