Monmouthshire pirates: not what they used to be

Charles Johnson may or may not have been identical with the author of "Robinson Crusoe". He wrote in his "General History of the Pyrates" (second edition, 1724) of Monmouthshire Pirate Howel Davies, who had just mutinied and taken over the trading sloop Mumwil Trader in Martinique.

"After this, a counsel of war was called over a large bowl of punch, at which it was proposed to chuse a commander; the election was soon over, for it fell upon Davies by a great majority of legal pollers, there was no scrutiny demanded, for all acquiesced in the choice: as soon as we was possessed of his command, he drew up articles, which were signed and sworn to by himself and all the rest, then he made a short speech, the sum of which was, a declaration of war against all the world."

Davies eventually died, by treachery, on the island of Sao Tome, where he was "shot through the bowels". "Just as he fell, he perceived he was followed, and drawing out his pistols, fired them at his pursuers; thus like a game cock, giving a dying blow, that he might not fall unavenged."