Chapter 1

RISE OF EUROPEAN PIRACY IN THE EAST

Portuguese pirates--Vincente Sodre--Dutch pirates--Royal filibustering--Endymion Porter's venture--The Courten Association--The Indian Red Sea fleet--John Hand--Odium excited against the English in Surat--The _Caesar_ attacked by French pirates--Danish depredations--West Indian pirates--Ovington's narrative--Interlopers and permission ships--Embargo placed on English trade--Rovers trapped at Mungrole--John Steel--Every seizes the _Charles the Second_ and turns pirate--His letter to English commanders--The Madagascar settlements--Libertatia--Fate of Sawbridge--Capture of the _Gunj Suwaie_--Immense booty--Danger of the English at Surat--Bombay threatened--Friendly behaviour of the Surat Governor--Embargo on European trade--Every sails for America--His reputed end--Great increase of piracy--Mutiny of the _Mocha_ and _Josiah_ crews--Culliford in the _Resolution_--The _London_ seized by Imaum of Muscat.