Execu.Being aſked the meaning of this, he only anſwered, by damning them, that if he did not now and then kill one of them, they would forget who he was.
Hands being taken, was try’d and condemned, but juſt as he was about to be executed, a Ship arrives at Virginia with a Proclamation for prolonging the Time of his Majeſty’s Pardon, to ſuch of the Pyrates as ſhould ſurrender by a limited Time therein expreſſed: Notwithſtanding the Sentence, Hands pleaded the Pardon, and was allowed the Benefit of it, and is alive at this Time in London, begging his Bread.
Now that we have given ſome Account of Teach’s Life and Actions, it will not be amiſs, that we ſpeak of his Beard, ſince it did not a little contribute towards making his Name ſo terrible in thoſe Parts.
Plutarch, and other grave Hiſtorians have taken Notice, that ſeveral great Men amongſt the Romans, took their Sir-Names from certain odd Marks in their Countenances; as Cicero, from a Mark or Vetch on his Noſe; ſo our Heroe, Captain Teach, aſſumed the Cognomen of Black-beard, from that large Quantity of Hair, which, like a frightful Meteor, covered his whole Face, and frightened America more than any Comet that has appeared there a long Time.
This Beard was black, which he ſuffered to grow of an extravagant Length; as to Breadth, it came up to his Eyes; he was accuſtomed to twiſt it with Ribbons, in ſmall Tails, after the Manner of our Ramilies Wiggs, and turn them about his Ears: In Time of Action, he wore a Sling over his Shoulders, with three brace of Piſtols, hanging in Holſters like Bandaliers; and ſtuck lighted Matches under his Hat, which appearing on each Side of his Face, his Eyes naturally looking fierce and
