f Rice, and an old cable.

Two days after they took a Sloop of sixty tons, from which they took
two hogsheads of rum, and two of molasses, and then put in her eight
men, to take care of the Prize; but they not liking her new
acquaintance took the first opportunity to get off with her.

After this the Major threw off all restraint, and became a downright
Pirate, by the name of Captain _Thomas_, taking and plundering all the
vessels he met with. He took off Cape _Henry_, two Ships from
_Virginia_, bound to _Glasgow_; the next day a small Sloop from
_Virginia_ bound to _Bermudas_; from which they took twenty barrels of
pork, and gave her in return, two barrels of rice, and as much
molasses. The next day they took another _Virginia_ man, bound to
_Glasgow_, out of which they took two men, and a few small things, and
gave her a barrel of pork, and another of bread. From thence they
sailed to _Philadelphia_, where they took a Schooner coming from
_North Carolina_ to _Boston_, from which they took two men, and two
dozen of calves skins, to make covers for guns. In the latitude of
32 deg., off of _Delaware_ River, near _Philadelphia_, they took two Snows
bound to _Bristol_, from which they took money and goods to the value
of two hundred pounds; as also a Sloop of sixty tons, from
_Philadelphia_ to _Barbadoes_, from which they took a few goods, and
let her go. The 29th of _July_, they took a Sloop of fifty tons, bound
from _Philadelphia_ to _Barbadoes_, laden with provisions, which they
kept; as also another of sixty tons, from _Antegoa_ to _Philadelphia_,
having on board, rum, molasses, sugar, cotton and indigo, to the value
of five hundred Pounds, all of which they kept. Then they left
_Delaware_ Bay, and sailed to Cape _Fear_ River, where they staid
almost two months to repair their Sloop, which proved very leaky, till
news came to _Carolina_ of a Pirate's Sloop, with her Prizes, being
there a-careening.

Whereupon Colonel _William Rhet_ offered to go with two Sloops to
attack them; which being by the Governor and Council approved of, he
was commissioned on board the _Henry_, with eight guns and seventy
men, commanded by Captain _John Masters_; and the _Sea Nymph_,
commanded by Captain Farier-Hall, with as many guns and men; both
under the Direction of the Colonel, who went on board the _Henry_ the
14th of _September_, and sailed from _Charles_ Town to _Swillivant's_
Island, in order to cruise: where he was informed, by a