red himself into the society of pirates, where he served
as a private mariner for some time, and behaved himself so well, that he
was beloved and respected by all. One day some of the mariners
quarrelled with their captain to that degree, that they left the boat.
Brasiliano following them, was chosen their leader, who having fitted
out a small vessel, they made him captain.

Within a few days after, he took a great ship coming from New Spain,
which had a great quantity of plate on board, and carried it to Jamaica.
This action got him a great reputation at home; and though in his
private affairs he governed himself very well, he would oftentimes
appear brutish and foolish when in drink, running up and down the
streets, beating and wounding those he met, no person daring to make any
resistance.

To the Spaniards he was always very barbarous and cruel, out of an
inveterate hatred against that nation. Of these he commanded several to
be roasted alive on wooden spits, for not showing him hog-yards where he
might steal swine. After many of these cruelties, as he was cruising on
the coasts of Campechy, a dismal tempest surprised him so violently,
that his ship was wrecked upon the coasts, the mariners only escaping
with their muskets and some few bullets and powder, which were the only
things they could save. The ship was lost between Campechy and the
Golpho Triste: here they got ashore in a canoe, and, marching along the
coast with all the speed they could, they directed their course towards
Golpho Triste, the common refuge of the pirates. Being upon his journey,
and all very hungry and thirsty, as is usual in desert places, they were
pursued by a troop of an hundred Spaniards. Brasiliano, perceiving their
imminent danger, encouraged his companions, telling them they were
better soldiers, and ought rather to die under their arms fighting, as
it became men of courage, than surrender to the Spaniards, who would
take away their lives with the utmost torments. The pirates were but
thirty; yet, seeing their brave commander oppose the enemy with such
courage, resolved to do the like: hereupon they faced the troop of
Spaniards, and discharged their muskets on them so dextrously, that they
killed one horseman almost with every shot. The fight continued for an
hour, till at last the Spaniards were put to flight. They stripped the
dead, and took from them what was most for their use; such as were also
not quite dead they dispatched wi