FOOTNOTES:
[8] Avery was one of the best
known pirates of his time and
told
of his wonderful wealth, his capturing and marrying
the
daughter
of the Great Mogul, and his setting up a kingdom in
Madagascar.
He was even the hero of a popular play—The
Successful
Pirate, produced at Dray Lane in 1712. The
true
story
of his life and how he died in want, is related at
length
in
Captain Charles Johnson’s History of the Pirates
edited by
me,
and published in the same edition as the present volume.
[9] Woodes Rogers (d. 1732)
sailed on Dampier’s voyages and
made
a large sum of money which he devoted to buying the
Bahama
Islands
from the proprietors on a twenty-one years’ lease.
He
was
made governor, but found himself unable to cope with
the
pirates
and Spaniards who infested the islands, and went back
to
England
in 1721. He returned as governor in 1728, and
remained
there
until his death.
[10] This was Howel Davis, whose
adventures are related at
length
in Johnson’s History of the Pirates, chap.
ix.
[11] The History of the Pirates
gives the date as 19th of July.
This
book gives an interesting account of Kennedy, pp. 178-81.
The Life of MATTHEW CLARK, a Footpad and Murderer
Perhaps there is nothing to which we may more justly attribute those numerous executions which so disgrace our country, than the false notions which the meaner sort, especially, imbibe in their youth as to love and women. This unhappy person, Matthew Clark, of whom we are now to speak, was a most remarkable instance of the truth of this observation. He was born at St. Albans, of parents in but mean circumstances, who thought they had provided very well for their son when they had procured his admission into the family of a neighbouring gentleman, equally distinguished by the greatness of his merit and fortune.
In this place, certainly, had Matthew been inclined in any degree to good, he might have acquired from the favour of his master all the advantages, even of a liberal education; but proving an incorrigible, lazy and undutiful servant, the gentleman in whose service he was, after bearing with him a long time, turned him out of his family. He then went to plough and cart, and such other country work, but though he had been bred to this and was never in any state from which he could reasonably hope better, yet was he so restless and uneasy at those hardships which he fancied were put upon him, that he chose rather to rob than to labour; and leaving the farmer in whose service he was, used to skulk about Bushey Heath, and watch all opportunities to rob passengers.