_Worley_ and his Crew, in going down the River, met with a Sloop of _Philadelphia_, belonging to a Mulatto, whom they call'd _Black Robbin_; they quitted their Boat for this Sloop, taking one of _Black Robin_'s Men along with them, as they had also done from _George Grant_, besides two Negroes, which encreased the Company one Third. A Day or two after, they took another Sloop belonging to _Hull_, homeward bound, which was somewhat fitter for their Purpose; they found aboard her, Provisions and Necessaries, which they stood in need of, and enabled them to prosecute their Design, in a manner more suitable to their Wishes.
Upon the Success of these Rovers, the Governor issued out a Proclamation, for the apprehending and taking all Pyrates, who had refused or neglected to surrender themselves, by the Time limited in his Majesty's Proclamation of Pardon; and thereupon, ordered his Majesty's Ship _Phoenix_, of 20 Guns, which lay at _Sandy Hook_, to Sea, to cruize upon this Pyrate, and secure the Trade to that, and the adjoining Colonies.
In all probability, the taking this Sloop sav'd their Bacons, for this Time, tho' they fell into the Trap presently afterwards; for they finding themselves in tolerable good Condition, having a Vessel newly cleaned, with Provisions, _&c._ they stood off to Sea, and so missed the _Phoenix_, who expected them to be still on the Coast.
About six Weeks afterwards they returned, having taken both a Sloop and a Brigantine, among the _Bahama_ Islands; the former they sunk, and the other they let go: The Sloop belonged to _New-York_, and they thought the sinking of her good Policy, to prevent her returning to tell Tales at Home.
_Worley_ had by this Time encreased his Company to about five and twenty Men, had six Guns mounted, and small Arms as many as were necessary for them, and seem'd to be in a good thriving sort of a Way. He made a black Ensign, with a white Death's Head in the Middle of it, and other Colours suitable to it. They all signed Articles, and bound themselves under a solemn Oath, to take no Quarters, but to stand by one another to the last Man, which was rashly fulfill'd a little afterwards.
For going into an Inlet in _North-Carolina_, to clean, the Governor received Information of it, and fitted out two Sloops, one of eight Guns, and the other with six, and about seventy Men between them. _Worley_ had clean'd his Sloop, and sail'd before the _Carolina_ Sloops reached the Place, and steered to the Northward; but the Sloops just mentioned, pursuing the same Course, came in sight of _Worley_, as he was cruising off the Capes of _Virginia_, and being in the Offin, he stood in as soon as he saw the Sloops, intending thereby to have cut them off from _James_ River; for he verily believed they had been bound thither, not imagining, in the least, they were in Pursuit of him.