IR, I have received your letter, and herein am glad to confent to your requeft, which was,( that fince fo many flying fables , and rumoring tales have beene fpread, of the fame, or ra- ther indeede infamie, over the whole face of Chri- ftendome, of this notori- ous and arch pirate Ward)

my felfe, who had even knowne him to be a knave , and
of late (yet too foone) had prooved him a theefe, whofe
fortunes had beene fo much decaied by his profepritie,
and who fo long had beene held his prifoner ....?....,
who had then feene, abroad heard, and at Sea felt, the
abilitie of his ftrength, the ordering of his actions, and
the uniuftnes of his proceedings. I might beft gratifie
my friends, and moft truely fatiffie the world, and their
greedy and avidous expectation, what iniurie hee hath
done, daily doth, and ftill indeavoureth to doe, to rich
eftats, and provident Sea-farers, to the venturing Mar-
chant, and the carefull Saylor, to poore wives and di-
ftreffed children; how like a villaine, and an apoftata he

lives,