ned in his service as many of the common seamen
as he had need of, setting the rest ashore, and then set sail for
France, where he continued, without ever returning to America again."

[Illustration: "PIERRE LE GRAND COMMANDING THE SPANISH CAPTAIN TO
SURRENDER THE SHIP"--_Page 36_]

The planters and hunters of Tortuga had no sooner heard of the rich
prize those pirates had taken, but they resolved to follow their
example. Hereupon, many of them left their employments, and endeavoured
to get some small boats, wherein to exercise piracy; but not being able
to purchase, or build them at Tortuga, they resolved to set forth in
their canoes, and seek them elsewhere. With these they cruised at first
upon Cape de Alvarez, where the Spaniards used to trade from one city to
another in small vessels, in which they carry hides, tobacco, and other
commodities, to the Havannah, and to which the Spaniards from Europe do
frequently resort.

Here it was that those pirates at first took a great many boats laden
with the aforesaid commodities; these they used to carry to Tortuga, and
sell the whole purchase to the ships that waited for their return, or
accidentally happened to be there. With the gains of these prizes they
provided themselves with necessaries, wherewith to undertake other
voyages, some of which were made to Campechy, and others toward New
Spain; in both which the Spaniards then drove a great trade. Upon those
coasts they found great numbers of trading vessels, and often ships of
great burden. Two of the biggest of these vessels, and two great ships
which the Spaniards had laden with plate in the port of Campechy, to go
to the Caraccas, they took in less than a month's time, and carried to
Tortuga; where the people of the whole island, encouraged by their
success, especially seeing in two years the riches of the country so
much increased, they augmented the number of pirates so fast, that in a
little time there were, in that small island and port, above twenty
ships of this sort of people. Hereupon the Spaniards, not able to bear
their robberies any longer, equipped two large men-of-war, both for the
defence of their own coasts, and to cruise upon the enemies.

CHAPTER V

_How the pirates arm their vessels, and regulate their voyages._

BEFORE the pirates go to sea, they give notice to all concerned, of the
day on which they are to embark; obliging each man to bring so many
pounds of powder and ball as they th