After this, they cruised to the Northward, and took several Vessels and then steered for the Bay of Honduras, where they took Five English Sloops, and a Pink, and a Spaniard of 6 Guns and 70 men, whom they killed every man; which being done they rummaged the Spanish Ship, bringing all the booty on board their own vessel.
In the next cruise, between the Leeward Islands and the Main, they took two Snows from Jamaica to Liverpool, and just after a Ship called the Amsterdam Merchant, the Captain thereof he slit his Nose, cut his Ears off, and then plundered the ship and let her go. Afterwards he took a Sloop bound to Amboy, of whose Men he tied lighted matches between the fingers, which burnt the flesh off the bones, and afterwards set them ashore in an uninhabited part of the country, as also other ships which fell a prey to those villains.
One of His Majesty’s Men-of-War called the Greyhound, of 20 guns and 120 men, hearing of their barbarous actions, went in search of them and, seeing the Pirates, allowed Lowe to chase them at first, till they were in readiness to engage him, and when he was within gunshot, tacked about and stood towards him. The Pirates edged away under the Man-of-War’s stern, making a running fight for about two hours. But little wind happening, the Pirates gained from her; thereupon the Greyhound left off firing, and turned all her hands to her oars, and came up with them, when the fight was renewed with a brisk fire on both sides, till the Ranger’s main-yard was shot down; upon which, the Greyhound pressing close, Lowe bore away and left his consort, who seeing the cowardice of his Commadore, and that there was no possibility of escaping, called out for quarters.
Lowe’s conduct in this engagement shewed him to be a cowardly villain; for had he fought half as briskly as Harris, the Man-of-War could never have taken either of them. The Greyhound carried her Prize to Rhode-Island, which was looked upon to be of such signal Service to the Colony, that in Council they resolved to compliment Peter Sulgard Captain, with the Freedom of their Corporation. They secured the prisoners under a strong guard in Jail, till a Court of Vice-Admiralty could be held for their Trials, which was on the 10th of July at Newport, lasting three Days. The Judges were William Dummer, Esq; Lieutenant Governor of the Massachusets, President; Nathaniel Payne, Esq; John Lechmore, Esq; Surveyor General; John Valentine, Esq; Advocate General; Samuel Cranston, Governor of Rhode Island; John Menzies, Esq; Judge of the Admiralty; Richard Ward, Esq; Registrar; and Mr. Jahleet Brinton, Provost Marshal. Robert Auchmuta, Esq, was appointed by the Court, Counsel for the prisoners here under mentioned.
Charles Harris, Captain, William Blads, Daniel Hyde, Thomas Powel, jun., Stephen Munden, Thomas Hugget, William Read, Peter Kneeves, James Brinkley, Joseph Sound, William Shutfield, Edward Eaton, John Brown, Edward Lawson, Owen Rice, John Tomkins, John Fitzgerald, Abraham Lacy, Thomas Linester, Francis Leyton, John Walters, Quarter-master, William Jones, Charles Church, Thomas Hazel, and John Bright, who were all executed the 19th of July, 1723, near Newport in Rhode Island; but John Brown and Patrick Cunningham were recommended to Mercy.
The eight following were found Not Guilty; John Wilson, Henry Barnes, Thomas Jones, Joseph Switzer, Thomas Mumper, Indian, John Hencher, Doctor, John Fletcher, and Thomas Child.
Instead of working repentance in Lowe, this deliverance made him ten times worse, vowing revenge upon all they should meet with for the future, which they executed upon Nathan Skiff, Master of a Whale-fishing Sloop, whom they whipt naked about the deck, and then cut off his ears, making his torture their sport. At length being weary thereof, they shot him through the head, and sunk his vessel. Some days after, he took a fishing boat off of Black Island, and only cut off the master’s head; but next day taking two Whale Boats near Rhode Island, he brutally killed one of the masters and cut off the ears of the other. From hence he went to Newfoundland, where he took 23 French Vessels, and mann’d one of them of 22 Guns with pirates; after which, they took and plundered 18 ships, some of which they destroyed.
The latter end of July, Lowe took a large ship called the Merry Christmas, and mounted her with 34 Guns, on which he goes aboard, taking the title of Admiral, and sails to the Western Islands, where he took a Brigantine manned with English and Portugueze, the Latter of whom he hanged.
Afterwards Lowe went to the Coast of Guinea, but nothing happened till he came to Sierra Leon, in Africa, when he met with the Delight, which he took, mounting her with 16 Guns, and 60 men, appointing Spriggs Captain, and from whom two days after he separated.
In January after, he took a Ship called Squirrel, but what came of him afterwards we cannot tell.