CHAP. IV.
of
Major Stede Bonnet,
And his Crew.
The Major was a Gentleman of good Reputation in the Iſland of Barbadoes, was Maſter of a plentiful Fortune, and had the Advantage of a liberal Education. He had the leaſt Temptation of any Man to follow ſuch a Courſe of Life, from the Condition of his Circumſtances. It was very ſurprizing to every one, to hear of the Major’s Enterprize, in the Iſland were he liv’d; and as he was generally eſteem’d and honoured, before he broke out into open Acts of Pyracy, ſo he was afterwards rather pitty’d than condemned, by thoſe that were acquainted with him, believing that this Humour of going a pyrating, proceeded from a Diſorder in his Mind, which had been but too viſible in him, ſome Time before this wicked Undertaking; and which is ſaid to have been occaſioned by ſome Diſcomforts he found in a married State; be that as it will, the Major was but ill qualify’d for the Buſineſs, as not underſtanding maritime Affairs.
However, he fitted out a Sloop with ten Guns and 70 Men, entirely at his own Expence, and in the Night-Time ſailed from Barbadoes. He called his Sloop the Revenge; his firſt Cruize was off the Capes of Virginia, where he took ſeveral Ships, and plundered them of their Proviſions, Cloaths,
