ABSTRACT
JOHN HALSEY was a Boston man, of New England, commanded the Charles brigantine, and went out with a commission from the Governor to cruise on the banks of Newfoundland, where he took a French banker, which he appointed to meet him at Fayal; but missing his prize here, he went among the Canary Islands, where he took a Spanish sloop, which he plundered and sunk. From thence he went to the island of Bravo, one of the Cape Verd, where he wooded and watered, and turned ashore his lieutenant. And several of his men here running away from him, the Governor sent them on board again, his commission being as yet in force. From hence he stood away then to the southward, and doubling the Cape of Good Hope, made for Madagascar and the Bay of Augustine, where he took in wood and water, with some straggling seamen, who were cast away in the Degrave Indiaman, Captain Young commander. After this, he shaped his course for the Red Sea and met with a Dutchman of 60 guns, coming from Mocha, whom he kept company with a week. Though he was resolved upon turning Pirate, he intended to rob only the Moor ships, which occasioned a dispute between him and his men, they insisting on the ship's being a Moor, he as strenuously asserting she was Dutch, and was positive in his resolve of meddling with no European ships. The men were for boarding, but his obstinacy not being to be conquered, they broke Halsey and his gunner, confining both, and were ready to board the Dutchman when one of the crew perceiving he was about to run out his lower tier [of guns] knocked down the quartermaster (whose business it is to be at the helm in time of chase or engagement according to the rules of Pirates) clapped the helm hard a-weather, and wore the brigantine. The Dutchman stayed, and fired a shot, which, taking a swivel gun, carried it aft, narrowly missed the man at helm, and shattered the tafrail. The men perceiving they had catched a Tartar, made the best of their way to shake her off; and some were running down between decks, whom the surgeon pricked up again with his sword, though he no way was consenting to their designed Piracy. The Captain and the gunner were again re-instated after the men had seen their mistake, and they steered for the Nicobar Islands, where they met with a country ship called the Buffalo, commanded by Captain Buckley, an Englishman, coming from Bengal. This they took after a short engagement, there being only three Europeans on board, the Captain and two mates: the rest were Moors. This ship fell seasonably in their way, she being bound for Achen with butter, rice and cloth, and the Pirates at that time being in great straights for both provision and clothing. They took the two mates to sea with them, but left the Captain and the Moors at Car Nicobar, at an anchor, and then took a cruise. Captain Buckley, who was sick, died before their return. In the cruise they met with Captain Collins in a country sloop, bound also to Achen. He had also two English mates with him, but the rest of his company consisted of Moors; him they carried to the same harbour where they left the Buffalo.
