Upon this Intelligence the Governor fitted out a Ship which was named the _Willing Mind_, mann'd with fifty stout Hands, well armed, and also a Sloop with thirty Hands, which he sent to cruise amongst those Islands, in search of _Vane_ the Pyrate, giving them Orders also to endeavour to recover the Ship _Neptune_, which Captain _King_ told them had still Goods of a considerable Value left in her.
They went out accordingly, but never saw _Vane_; however, they found the _Neptune_, which was not sunk as the Pyrates intended; for the Ball they fired into her stuck in the Ballast, without passing through, by Reason the Gun had not been sufficiently charged, and so they returned with her about the 10th of _November_; but an unlucky Accident happened to the Ship _Willing Mind_, occasioned either by the ignorance or Carelessness of the Pilot, which was bulged in going over the Bar.
In the mean Time _Vane_ made towards the Coast of _Hispaniola_, living riotously on Board, having store of Liquor, and plenty of fresh Provisions, such as Hogs, Goats, Sheep, Fowl, which he got upon easy Terms, for touching at a Place called _Isleatherer_, he plundered the Inhabitants of as much of their Provision as they could carry away: Here they cruised to about _February_, when, near the Windward Passage of Cape _Mase_, they met with a large rich Ship of _London_, called the _Kingston_, loaden with Bale Goods, and other rich Merchandize, and having several Passengers on Board, some _English_, and some _Jews_, besides two Women.
Towards the North-End of _Jamaica_ they also met with a Turtle Sloop, bound in for that Island, on Board of which (after having first plundered her) they put the Captain of the _Kingston_, and some of his Men, and all the Passengers, except the two Women, whom they kept for their own Entertainment, contrary to the usual Practice of Pyrates, who generally sent them away, least they should occasion Contention.
The Ship _Kingston_ they kept for their own Use; for now their Company being strengthened by a great many Recruits, some Voluntiers, and some forced Men out of the _Neptune_ and _Kingston_, they thought they had Hands enough for two Ships; accordingly they shifted several of their Hands on Board the _Kingston_, and _John Rackham_, alias _Callico Jack_, (so called, because his Jackets and Drawers were always made of Callico) Quarter-Master to _Vane_, was unanimously chosen Captain of the _Kingston_.