t_, 1713, at Night; but of 16
Men that promised five only were as good as their Word.
Notwithstanding, _Phillips_ was for pushing on, assuring them that
they should soon increase their company. Hereupon they seized a
vessel, and went out to sea, when they soon began to settle their
Officers to prevent dispute, appointing, _John Phillips_, Captain;
_John Nutt_, Navigator of the Vessel; _James Sparks_, Gunner; _Thomas
Fern_, Carpenter; and _William White_ was only a private man among
them.

Before they left the Banks, they took several small fishing vessels,
out of which they took some more Hands, and then sailed to the
_West-Indies_: Among those that were taken, was one _John Rose Archer_
who having been a pirate under _Blackbeard_ was made Quarter-Master to
the company: They came off _Barbadoes_ in _October_, and cruised
about the Islands about three Months, without meeting with a vessel,
so that they were almost starved for want of provisions, when at
length they fell in with a _Martinico_ Man of 12 guns and 35 hands,
upon which they hoisted the Black Flag and ran up along side of the
Sloop, with piratical Colours flying, swearing, If they did not strike
immediately, they must expect no quarters; which so frightened the
_Frenchman_, that he never fired a gun. Having got this supply, they
took her provisions, and four of her men.

Having occasion to clean their vessel, _Phillips_ proposed _Tobago_;
and just as they had done, a Man-of-War's boat came into the Harbour,
the ship cruising to the Leeward of the Island; which was no sooner
gone, but they warped out, and plied to the Windward for safety.

In a few days they took a Snow with a few Hands in it, on board of
which they sent _Fern_ the Carpenter, _William Smith_, _Philips Wood_,
and _Taylor_; but _Fern_ being dissatisfied at _Archer's_ being
preferred before him to be Quarter-Master, persuaded the rest to go
off with the prize; but _Phillips_ gave them Chase, and coming up with
them, shot _Wood_, and wounded _Taylor_ in the leg; upon which the
other two surrendered.

From _Tobago_ they stood away to the Northward, and took a
_Portugueze_ bound for _Brazil_, and two or three Sloops for
_Jamaica_, in one of which _Fern_ endeavouring to go off, was killed
by _Phillips_, as was also another man for the like attempt, which
made all the others more fearful of discovering their Minds, dreading
the villany of a few hardened wretches, who feared neither God nor
Devil,