In this occasion I was sold, as being a servant under the said Company, in whose
     service I came out of France. But my fortune was very bad, for I fell into the
     hands of the most cruel tyrant and perfidious man that was ever born of woman,
     who was then Governor, or rather Lieutenant General, of that island. This man
     treated me with all the hard usages imaginable, even with that of hunger, with
     which I thought I should have perished inevitably. Withal he was willing to let
     me buy my freedom and liberty, but not under the rate of three hundred pieces of
     eight, I not being master of one, at that time, in the whole world. At last
     through the manifold miseries I endured, as also affliction of mind, I was
     thrown into a dangerous fit of sickness. This misfortune, being added to the
     rest of my calamities, was the cause of my happiness. For my wicked master, see-
     ing my condition, began to fear lest he lose his monies with my life. Hereupon
     he sold me the second time to a surgeon for the price of seventy pieces of eight.
     Being in the hands of this second master, I began soon after to recover my health
     through the good usage I received from him, as being much more humane and civil
     than that of my first patron. He gave me both clothes and very good food, and
     after I had served him but one year he offered me my liberty, with only this con-
     dition, that I should pay him one hundrd pieces of eight when I was in a capacity
     of wealth to do s. Which kind proposal of his I could not choose but accept with
     infinite joy and gratitude of mind.
     Being now at liberty, though unlike unto Adam when he was first created by the
     hands of his Maker--that is, naked and destitute of all human necessaries, nor
     knowing how to get my living--I determined to enter into the wicked order of the
     Pirates, or Robbers at Sea. Into this Society I was received with common consent
     both of the superior and vulgar sort, and among them I continued until the year
     1672. Having assisted them in all their designs and attempts, and served them in
     notable exploits, of which hereafter I shall give the reader a true account, I
     returned to my own native country. But before I begin to relate the things above-
     mentioned, I shall say something, for the satisfaction of such as are curious,
     of the Island Hispaniola, which lies towards the Western parts of America, as
     also give my reader a brief description thereof, according to my slender ability
     and experience.

     Description of the great and famous Island of Hispaniola
     The very large and rich island called Hispaniola is situate in the latitude of
     seventeen degrees and a half. The greatest part thereof extends, from East to
     West, twenty degrees Southern latitude. The circumference is three hundred lea-
     gues, the length one hundred and twenty, its breadth almost fifty, being more or
     less broad or narrow at certain places. I shall not need here to insert to in-
     sert how this island was at first discovered, it being known to the world that
     it was performed by the means of Christopher Columbus, in the year 1492, being
     sent for this purpose by Ferdinand, the Catholic, then King of Spain. From which
     time, to this present, the Spaniards have been continually possessors thereof.