Sloop, or Veſſel, ten Pounds; and, that for every Pyrate, which ſhall be taken by any Ship, Sloop or Veſſel, belonging to this Colony, or North-Carolina, within the Time aforeſaid, in any Place whatſoever, the like Rewards ſhall be paid according to the Quality and Condition of ſuch Pyrates. Wherefore, for the Encouragement of all ſuch Perſons as ſhall be willing to ſerve his Majeſty, and their Country, in ſo juſt and honourable an Undertaking, as the ſuppreſſing a Sort of People, who may be truly called Enemies to Mankind: I have thought fit, with the Advice and Conſent of his Majeſty’s Council, to iſſue this Proclamation, hereby declaring, the ſaid Rewards ſhall be punctually and juſtly paid, in current Money of Virginia, according to the Directions of the ſaid Act. And, I do order and appoint this Proclamation, to be publiſhed by the Sheriffs, at their reſpective County-Houſes, and by all Miniſters and Readers, in the ſeveral Churches and Chappels, throughout this Colony.
Given at our Council-Chamber at Williamsburgh,
in the fifth Year of his Majeſty’s Reign.
this 24th Day of November, 1718,
God ſave the King.A. Spotſwood.
The 17th of November, 1718, the Lieutenant ſail’d from Kicquetan, in James River in Virginia, and, the 21ſt in the Evening, came to the Mouth of Okerecock Inlet, where he got Sight of the Pyrate. This Expedition was made with all imaginable Secrecy, and the Officer manag’d with all the Prudence that was neceſſary, ſtopping all Boats and Veſſels he met with, in the River, from going up, and thereby preventing any Intelligence from reaching Black-Beard, and receiving at the ſame time an Account from them all, of the Place where the Pyrate was lurking; but notwithſtanding this Caution,
