One of England's crew in the Royal James. In 1720 they took a prize, the Elizabeth and Katherine, off the coast of West Africa. Fitting her out for a pirate, they named her the Flying King, and Sample was put in command. In company with Captain...

One of England's crew in the Royal James. In 1720 they took a prize, the Elizabeth and Katherine, off the coast of West Africa. Fitting her out for a pirate, they named her the Flying King, and Sample was put in command. In company with Captain Low, he sailed to Brazil and did much mischief amongst the Portuguese shipping. In November of the same year the two pirate ships were attacked by a very powerful man-of-war. Lane got away, but Sample was compelled to run his ship ashore on the coast. Of his crew of seventy men, twelve were killed and the rest taken prisoners, of whom the Portuguese hanged thirty-eight. Of these, thirty-two were English, three Dutch, two French, and one Portuguese.