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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ MAY, 1926
leniency caused several of the prisoners to join the pirates voluntarily, as well as the carpenters and surgeons, "who we always obliged to go." Red Hand was killed in fight with the Spaniards, "nor did I find that any one man in the ship showed the least concern for him, for certain it is that cruelty never recommends any man among Englishmen : no, though they have no share in the suffering under it." Every was elected to succeed him and on the 10th December 1692 arrived in Madagascer, sailing for the Red Sea on the 7th April 1693. Here definite dates are given, but they are certainly incorrect.
(3) The life and Adventures of Captain John Avery, published in 1709 and professedly written by one Adrian van Broeck, a Dutchman, who claimed to have been a prisoner in his hands. He says that Every was born in 1653 at Cat-Down, where his father owned some property. His father dying when Every was only ten years old, a rascally guardian embezzled his property and sent the boy to sea to prevent him from discovering the injury which had been done to him. Every served for some time in the Navy and won the good opinion of Rear Admiral Lawson in the Algiers Expedition (this took place in 1661. Possibly van Broeck means Sir Edward Spragge's expedition in 1671), and afterwards in the West Indies, where he went on a buccaneering cruise and got some booty. Then returning to England, Every served in the Dutch wars (? 1672.4) and later as Captain of a merchantman he went to Cam. peachy for logwood. In this capacity he enjoyed the favour of his employers and was popular with his men. He now prepared to settle down, and married, but soon discovered that his wife was a woman of indifferent character. In disgust he again went to sea and, finding himself in command of a stout, well-manned ship, determined to turn pirate. As far as I can judge, Van Broeck's statements are inaccurate and misleading, but he gives a personal description of Every, which, in the absence of any other, has a certain interest. He says "He was as to his proportion middle sized, inclinable to be fat and of a jolly complexion. His manner of living was imprinted in his face, and none that saw him but might easily have told his profession [See Portrait of John Avery, Pirate, by W. Jett, in the British Museum)...His temper was of a piece with his person, daring and good humoured, but insolent, uneasy and unforgiving to the last degree if at any time imposed upon. His knowledge of affairs relating to his calling was grounded upon a strong natural judgment and a sufficient experience that was highly advanced by an incessant application to the Mathematics; and notwithstanding the remissness of his education and converse in his minority, he had many principles of morality, which since his defection from an equitable procedure several of the subjects belonging to the Crown of Great Britain have sufficiently experienced." Compare the above picture with that of Vasco da Gema by Castanheda :-"Da Gama is said to have been of middle stature, with a ruddy complexion, but somewhat grogg. His character was bold, patient under fatigue, well fitted for great undertakings, speedy in executing justice and terrible in anger." (Kerr, II, 445).
(4) A copy of verses composed by Henry Every, lately gone to sea to seek his fortune (Firth, p. 131. Pepys Collection, V, 384). According to this, Every claimed rightful ownership of much landed property near Plymouth and went to sea because deprived unjustly of his rights. He says that he holds a Commission dated 1693 and that he intends to make his fortune at the expense of the French, Spaniards, Portuguese and Heathen, that he fights under the flag of St. George and, so long as this is flying, he will give good treatment and also whilst flying his own flag-a fantastio concoction 'four chivileges [sic] of gold in a bloody field, environ'd in green '--he will give Quarter, but if he is compelled to hoist the bloody flag,
'No Quarters to give, no Quarters to take; We save nothing living: alas ! 'tis too late. For we are now sworn by the bread and the wine :
More serious we are than any divine. In the Proclamation against Every it is stated that he committed piracy under English colours and, so far a I know, there is no mention of his ever using others or even flying the red flag,
