He was the son of John Avery, a victualler near Plymouth, in Devonshire, who in a few years was grown as opulent in his purse as in his body, by scoring two for one; and when he had so done, drinking the most of the liquor himself. By which means, and having a handsome wife, who knew her business as well as if she had been brought up to it from a child (which, indeed, she mostly was, her mother keeping the House before she married Mr. Avery), they soon became very rich and very able to give credit to a whole ship’s crew upon their tickets, which in those days were sold for less than half their value.

Having but one child (afterwards the Captain), they at first resolved to bring him up a scholar, that he might advance the dignity of the family. But instead of learning his book, he was taught by such companions that he could soon swear to every point of his compass, which was a very diverting scene for the Boatswain and his crew, who were then drinking in the kitchen, having just received ten pounds apiece short allowance money on board the Revenge, every farthing of which they spent before leaving the house.

But as soon as their money was spent, they were all like to have been imprisoned by their Landlady for a riot, as she called it, so they were soon glad to sheer off, and he thought himself happiest that could get first aboard. Indeed, it would have been happy for them if they had, for the ship was unmoored and gone to sea; which put the Boatswain and his crew swearing in earnest, and not knowing what to do, they resolved to return to their Landlady, Mrs. Avery, at “the Sign of the Defiance.” But she shut them out of doors, calling them a parcel of beggarly rascals, and swearing that if they would not go from the door she would send for the Constable; and notwithstanding all the entreaties and tears of her only son, who was then about six years of age, she could not be prevailed upon to let them in, so they were obliged to stroll about the street all night. In the morning, spying the ship at anchor, being driven back by contrary winds, they resolved to make the best of their way aboard; but on the way, whom should they meet but young Avery, who had no sooner seen them, but he cried after them. “Zounds,” says the Boatswain, “let’s take the young dog aboard, and his mother shall soon be glad to adjust the reckoning more to our satisfaction before she shall have her son.”

This was agreed upon by all hands, and the boy was as willing as any of them. So, stepping into the boat, in about an hour’s time they reached the ship, which they had no sooner boarded but they were brought before the Captain, who, being in want of hands, contented himself with bidding them all go to their business; for the wind turned about, and there was occasion for all hands to be at work to carry out the ship.

All this while young Avery was at the heels of the Boatswain, and was observed to swear two oaths to one of the Boatswain’s; which being soon observed by the Captain, he inquired who brought that young rascal aboard.

To which the Boatswain replied that he did, that the boy’s mother was his Landlady on shore, and he had taken him up in jest, but was afraid that they would now have to keep him in earnest.

When the hurry was a little over, the Captain commanded the boy to be brought to him in his cabin. He had not talked long to him before he took a fancy to him, telling him that if he would be a good boy, he should live with him.

He, being a mighty lover of children, would often divert himself by talking to the boy, till at length he took such a fancy to him, that he ordered him a little hammock in his own cabin, and none were so great as the Captain and his boy Avery, which had like to have proved very fatal to him; for Avery one night, observing the Captain to be very drunk with some passengers that were on board, got a lighted match and had like to have blown up the ship, had not the Gunner happened accidentally to follow him into the store-room. This made the Captain ever after very shy of his new Acquaintance, and Avery, after he had been well whipped, was ordered down into the hold, where he remained until they arrived at Carolina, which happened four or five days after.

The boy was given to a merchant, who, taking a fancy to him, put him to school; but he made so little progress in learning, and committed so many unlucky tricks, that the merchant, in about three years, shipped him off to his friends at Plymouth on board the Nonesuch, where he was no sooner arrived but his mother was overjoyed with the sight of her son, his father being dead about a month before his arrival.

And, indeed, it was thought the loss of their son broke his heart, for it was observed the father never held up his head after, the neighbours often reflecting upon him for his ill-usage of the seamen, who had spent so much money at his house; saying he could never expect that all his ill-gotten riches could prosper him, which so happened, as you shall hear presently. For his mother, dying soon after, the boy was left under the guardianship of one Mr. Lightfoot, a merchant, who, having great losses at sea, became a bankrupt, and so young Avery was left to look out after himself; there he continued for many years in pilfering and stealing till the country was too hot for him, when he betook him to sea again, where in time he became as famous for robbing as Cromwell for rebellion.

He entered himself on board the Duke, Captain Gibson Commander, being one of the two ships of twenty-four guns and one hundred men which were fitted out by the merchants of Bristol for the service of Spain, which they had no sooner done, but they were ordered by their agents at Bristol to sail for the Groyne to receive their orders.

On board one of which ships Avery, being at this time above twenty years old, entered himself, where he had not been long before he observed the Captain was much addicted to drunkenness.

He endeavoured to spirit up not only his own ship’s crew, but having also given the word to part of the other ship’s crew, the conspirators gave the signal.

At which the Duchess, as the other ship was named, put off her longboat; which the conspirators hailing were answered by the men in the boat, “Is your drunken Boatswain on board?” This being the word agreed upon, Avery answered, “All is safe;” upon which twenty lusty fellows came aboard and joined them, which they had no sooner done but they secured the hatches and went to work, putting to sea without any disorder, although there were several ships in the bay, amongst whom was a frigate of forty-four guns.

The Captain, by this time being awaked by the noise of the conspirators working the ship, rung the bell, inquiring what was the matter, to whom Avery and some of the crew replied, “Nothing. Are you mutinous in your cups? Can’t you lie down, sleep, and be quiet?”

“No,” saith the Captain. “I am sure something’s the matter with the ship. Does she drive? What weather is it? Is it a storm?”

Saith Avery: “Cannot you lie quiet while you are quiet? I tell you all’s well; we are at sea in a fair wind and good weather.”

“At sea,” saith the Captain; “that can’t be.”

“Be not frightened,” saith Avery, “and I’ll tell you. You must note, I am now the Captain of the ship; nay, you must turn out, for this is my cabin, and I am bound for Madagascar, to make my own fortune as well as my companions.”

The Captain, being more terrified than ever, did not know what to say, which Avery perceiving, bid him take heart. “For,” saith he, “if you will join me and these brave fellows, my companions, in time you may get some post under me. If not, step into the longboat and get about your business.”

This the Captain was glad to hear, but yet began to expostulate with them upon the injustice of such doings. Saith Avery: “What do I care? Every man for himself. Come, come, Captain, if you will go, get you gone; the longboat waits for you, and if there be any more cowards in the ship, you may all go together.” Which words so affrighted the whole crew, that there was not above nine or ten of them that durst venture, who made the best of their way to the shore as fast as they could, and thought they were well off.

The Captain was no sooner gone, but they called a Council, which agreed to own Avery as their Captain; which he accepted of with all humility imaginable, seeming to excuse himself on account of his inexperience at sea. But he did it so artfully that it more confirmed them in the good opinion of their choice. “Gentlemen,” said he, “what we have done we must live or die by; let us all be hearty and of one mind, and I don’t question but we shall make our fortune in a little time. I propose that we sail first to Madagascar, where we may settle a correspondence, in order to secure our retreats, whenever we think fit to lie by.”

To which they all agreed, “Nemine contradicente.”

“But hold,” saith Avery; “it is necessary that we make some order among us, for the better governing of the ship’s crew.” Which were in a few days drawn up by the clerk of the ship.

And Avery promising them vast things, they all came into them at last, although some things went very much against the grain of many of them.

It took up all their spare time till they arrived at Madagascar, where they saw a Ship lying at the N.E. part of the Island, with which the men had run away from New England; and seeing Avery, they supposed that he had been sent after them to take them, but Avery soon undeceived them, and promised them protection; therefore they resolved to sail together. In the whole company, there was not above ten that pretended to any skill in navigation; for Avery himself could neither write nor read very well, he being chosen Captain of the Duke purely for his courage and contrivance.

In the latitude of Descada, one of the Islands, they took two other sloops, which supplied them with provisions, and then they agreed to proceed to the West Indies; and coming to Barbadoes, they fell in with a ship for London with twelve guns, from which they took some clothes and money, ten barrels of powder, ten casks of beef, and several other goods, and five of her men, and then let her go. From thence he went to the Island of Dominico, and watered; there he met with six Englishmen, who willingly entered with Avery. They stayed not long before they sailed for the Granada Island to clean their ships; which being known to the French Colony, the Governor of Martenico sent four sloops well manned after them. But they stayed there not long, but made the best of their way for Newfoundland, entering the harbour of Trepasse with black colours, drums beating, and trumpets sounding.

It is impossible to relate the havoc they made there, burning all before them. When they left Newfoundland they sailed for the West Indies, and from thence to the Island Descada, it being judged the most convenient place, at that time of the year, to meet with a rich booty.

From hence they steered towards the Arabian Coast, near the River Indus, where, spying a sail, they gave chase. At their near approach she hoisted Mogul colours and seemed as if she would stand upon her defence, whilst Avery contented himself by cannonading her at a distance, which made many of his men begin to mutiny, thinking him a coward.

But Avery knew better, and commanding his sloops to attack her, one in the Bow, and the rest on the Quarter, clapt her on board, upon which she struck her colours and yielded. Aboard her was one of the Mogul’s own daughters, with several persons of distinction, who were carrying rich offerings of jewels and other valuable presents to Mecca; which booty was the more considerable, because these people always travel with great magnificence, having all their slaves and attendants always with them, besides jewels and great sums of money to defray the charges. But Avery, not content with this, seized the young Princess, and taking her with him into his own ship, made the best of his way to Madagascar, where she soon broke her heart and died. Also her father, the Great Mogul, did no sooner hear of it but he threatened all Europe with revenge. And when he knew they were Englishmen who had captured his daughter and robbed him, he threatened to send a mighty army, with fire and sword, to extirpate all the English from their settlements on the Indian Coasts, which gave no small uneasiness to the Indian Company at London, when they heard of it.