Charles Vane refused King George’s offer of pardon to all pirates who surrendered by September 1718, sailing away from Nassau aboard his brigantine with first mate (and former Royal Navy sailor[1]) Robert Deal and quartermaster Calico Jack Rackham aboard.

He tried to convince Blackbeard to join him in retaking Nassau from Governor Woodes Rogers; they met and caroused at Ocracoke Island in October 1718 but Blackbeard declined to join Vane.

[2] In November they spotted a large frigate and approached to capture it but were met with a full cannon broadside from what turned out to be a French man-of-war.

Vane, with Deal’s support, ordered a retreat over the objections of Rackham and most of the crew.

[5] While awaiting his fate, Vane learned that a warship had captured Deal some months earlier.