led
the _Jolly Roger_, with a skeleton in the middle holding a dart in one
hand, striking a bleeding heart; and in the other an hour-glass; and
being hoisted, they fired all their guns to salute _Spriggs_, whom
they chose Captain, and then went to look out for prey.

In their voyage they took a _Portugueze_ barque, wherein they had rich
plunder. Near _St. Lucia_, they took a Sloop belonging to
_Barbadoes_, which they first plundered, and then burnt, forcing some
of the men into their Service, and beating, in a barbarous manner,
those that refused to join with them, and afterwards sent them away in
the Boat, half dead with their wounds, the rest got to _Barbadoes_,
with much ado, though some of them died soon after of their cuts and
slashes. After this they took a _Martinico_ Man, which they used in
like manner, save that they did not burn the ship. Then running down
to the Leeward, they took one Captain _Hawkins_ coming from _Jamaica_,
laden with Logwood; out of which, they took her stores, arms, and
ammunition, and what they did not want they threw over-board; they cut
the cables to pieces, knocked down the cabins, broke the windows, and
did what mischief they could, taking _Burridge_ and _Stephens_, the
two Mates, and some other Hands, by force; and then after keeping her
a week, they let her go. On the 27th they took a _Rhode_ Island Sloop,
compelling the Captain, and all his men, to go on board the Pirate:
One of them not being willing to stay with them, they told him he
should have a discharge presently, which was to receive ten lashes
from every man on board.

The next day _Burridge_ signed their Articles; which pleased them so
much, that they fired all the Guns, and made him Master, spending that
day in rejoicings and drinking healths.

The First of _April_ they spied a sail, and gave her chase all night,
believing she had been a _Spaniard_; but when they came up to her, and
gave her a broadside, she cried out for Quarters, which made them
cease firing, and ordered the Captain to come aboard, which proved to
be Captain _Hawkins_, whom they had dismissed three days before, not
worth a groat. Two Days after, they anchored at _Ratran_, not far from
_Honduras_, and put ashore Captain _Hawkins_, and several others,
giving them powder and ball, and a musquet, and then left them to
shift as well as they could. Here they staid three weeks, when two men
came in a canoe, that had been left in another Maroon Island near