agnificent name
of the capitol.

Sec. 145. In the second year of this gentleman's government, there happened
an adventure very fortunate for him, which gave him much credit, and
that was the taking of a pirate within the capes of that country.

It fell out that several merchant ships were got ready, and fallen down
to Lynhaven bay, near the mouth of James river, in order for sailing. A
pirate being informed of this, and hearing that there was no man of war
there, except a sixth rate, ventured within the capes, and took several
of the merchant ships. But a small vessel happened to come down the bay,
and seeing an engagement between the pirate and a merchantman, made a
shift to get into the mouth of James river, where the Shoram, a fifth
rate man of war, was newly arrived. The sixth rate, commanded by Capt.
John Aldred, was then on the careen in Elizabeth river, in order for her
return to England.

The governor happened to be at that time at Kiquotan, sealing up his
letters, and Capt. Passenger, commander of the Shoram, was ashore, to
pay his respects to him. In the meanwhile news was brought that a pirate
was within the capes; upon which the captain was in haste to go aboard
his ship; but the governor stayed him a little, promising to go along
with him. The captain soon after asked his excuse, and went off, leaving
him another boat, if he pleased to follow. It was about one o'clock in
the afternoon when the news was brought; but 'twas within night before
his excellency went aboard, staying all that while ashore upon some
weighty occasions. At last he followed, and by break of day the man of
war was fairly out between the capes and the pirate; where, after ten
hours sharp engagement, the pirate was obliged to strike and surrender
upon the terms of being left to the king's mercy.

Now it happened that three men of this pirate's gang were not on board
their own ship at the time of the surrender, and so were not included in
the articles of capitulation, but were tried in that country. In summing
up the charge against them (the governor being present) the
attorney-general extolled his excellency's mighty courage and conduct,
as if the honor of taking the pirate had been due to him. Upon this,
Capt. Passenger took the freedom to interrupt Mr. Attorney in open
court, and said that he was commander of the Shoram; that the pirates
were his prisoners; and that no body had pretended to command in that
engagement but himself: he