ures, he married a young creature of
about sixteen years of age, the governor performing the ceremony. As it
is a custom to marry here by a priest, so it is there by a magistrate;
and this, I have been informed, made Teach's fourteenth wife whereof
about a dozen might be still living.

In June, 1718, he went to sea upon another expedition, and steered his
course towards Bermudas. He met with two or three English vessels in his
way, but robbed them only of provisions, stores, and other necessaries,
for his present expense; but near the island before mentioned, he fell
in with two French ships, one of them was laden with sugar and cocoa,
and the other light, both bound to Martinico. The ship that had no
lading he let go, and putting all the men of the loaded ship aboard her,
he brought home the other with her cargo to North Carolina, where the
governor and the pirates shared the plunder.

When Teach and his prize arrived he and four of his crew went to his
Excellency and made affidavit that they found the French ship at sea
without a soul on board her; and then a court was called, and the ship
condemned. The governor had sixty hogsheads of sugar for his dividend,
and one Mr. Knight, who was his secretary and collector for the
province, twenty, and the rest was shared among the other pirates.

The business was not yet done; the ship remained, and it was possible
one or other might come into the river that might be acquainted with
her, and so discover the roguery. But Teach thought of a contrivance to
prevent this, for, upon a pretence that she was leaky, and that she
might sink, and so stop up the mouth of the inlet or cove where she lay,
he obtained an order from the governor to bring her out into the river
and set her on fire, which was accordingly executed, and she was burnt
down to the water's edge, her bottom sunk, and with it their fears of
her ever rising in judgment against them.

Captain Teach, alias Black-beard, passed three or four months in the
river, sometimes lying at anchor in the coves, at other times sailing
from one inlet to another, trading with such sloops as he met for the
plunder he had taken, and would often give them presents for stores and
provisions he took from them; that is, when he happened to be in a
giving humor; at other times he made bold with them, and took what he
liked, without saying "By your leave," knowing well they dared not send
him a bill for the payment. He often diverted himse