From the Coaſt of New-England, Low ſailed directly for Newfoundland, and, near Cape Briton, took two or three and twenty French Veſſels; and one of them of 22 Guns he mann’d with Pyrates, making a ſort of a Man of War of her; with which he ſcower’d the Harbours and Banks of Newfoundland, and took ſixteen or eighteen other Ships and Veſſels, all which they plundered, and ſome deſtroyed.
Thus theſe inhumane Wretches went on, who could not be contented to ſatisfy their Avarice only, and travel in the common Road of Wickedneſs; but, like their Patron, the Devil, muſt make Miſchief their Sport, Cruelty their Delight, and damning of Souls their conſtant Employment. Of all the pyratical Crews that were ever heard of, none of the Engliſh Name came up to this, in Barbarity; their Mirth and their Anger had much the ſame Effect, for both were uſually gratified with the Cries and Groans of their Priſoners; ſo that they almoſt as often murthered a Man from the Exceſs of good Humour, as out of Paſſion and Reſentment; and the Unfortunate could never be aſſured of Safety from them, for Danger lurked in their very Smiles. An Inſtance of this had liked to have happened to one Captain Graves, Maſter of a Virginia Ship laſt taken; for as ſoon as he came aboard of the Pyrate, Low takes a Bowl of Punch in his Hand, and drinks to him, ſaying, Captain Graves, here’s half this to you.
But the poor Gentleman being too ſenſibly touched at the Miſfortune of falling into his Hands, modeſtly deſired to be excuſed, for that he could not drink; whereupon Low draws out a Piſtol, cocks it, and with the Bowl in ’tother Hand, told him, he ſhould either take one or the other: So Graves, without Heſitation, made Choice of the Vehicle that contained the Punch, and guttled down about a Quart, when he had the leaſt Inclination that ever he had in his Life to be merry.
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