an of Fortune and Distinction in the Island of
_Barbadoes_, who before his Piracy bore the character of a worthy
honest _man_, and no-body could ever account for this his undertaking,
for he wanted neither learning nor understanding. He fitted out a
Sloop with ten guns and sixty men, which he named the _Revenge_, at
his own expence, and sailed from _Barbadoes_ for the Cape of
_Virginia_, where he took the _Anne_ from _Glasgow_, the _Turbet_ from
_Barbadoes_, the _Endeavour_ from _Bristol_, the _Young_ from _Leith_,
and many others. From thence he went to _New York_, and there took a
Sloop, and then stood in at _Gardiner's_ Island where he bought
provisions, and went off. _August_, 1717, he came off at the Bar of
_South Carolina_, and took a Sloop and Brigantine, which they
plundered, and then he dismissed the Brigantine, but took the Sloop
with him to an Inlet in _North-Carolina_, where he careened, and set
her on fire.

Afterwards he put to sea, but could not agree with the men what course
to take; for the Major being no sailor, was obliged to submit to many
things his men imposed upon him, when falling in with _Edward Teach_,
alias _Blackbeard_, who was a good sailor, but a hardened villain,
_Bonnet's_ Crew joined with him, and put _Bonnet_ aboard
_Blackbeard's_ Ship.

But _Blackbeard_ losing his Ship at _Topsail_ Inlet, surrendered to
the King's Proclamation; when _Bonnet_ re-assumed the command of his
own Sloop, and sailed directly for _Bath_ Town in _North-Carolina_,
where he also surrenders himself, and receives a certificate. There
getting a clearance for his Sloop, he pretended to sail for the
Island of _St. Thomas_, to get the Emperor's Commission to go
a-Privateering upon the _Spaniards_. But returning to _Topsail_ Inlet,
he found that _Blackbeard_ and his gang were gone, with their effects;
and that they had set on shore, on a small sandy island about a league
from the continent, seventeen men, without any provisions, or vessel
to escape. There they had been two nights and one day without any
sustenance, when, to their inexpressible joy, they saw Major _Bonnet_,
who had been informed of their being there by two of _Blackbeard's_
crew, who had escaped to avoid his cruelty.

Then he steered his course towards _Virginia_, where meeting with a
Pink having Provisions on board, and they being in want, he took out
of her ten barrels of pork, and five hundredweight of bread, and gave
her, in exchange, ten casks o