Wherefore as I Commonly Speake w'th all Ships I Desire who ever Comes to y'e perusal of this to take this Signall that if you or aney whome you may informe are desirous to know w't wee are att a Distance then make your Antient Vp in a Ball or Bundle and hoyst him att y'e Mizon Peek y'e Mizon Being furled I shall answere w'th y'e same & Never Molest you: for my men are hungry Stout and Resolute: & should they Exceed my Desire I cannott help my selfe.
as Yett An Englishman's friend HENRY EVERY." "Here is 160 od french Armed men now att Mohilla who waits for Opportunity of getting aney ship, take Care of your Selves."[4] According to Van Broeck, he was a man of good natural disposition, who had been soured by the bad treatment he received at the hands of his relations.

The letter shows him to have been a man of some education, and during his short but active career in the Indian seas he appears to have attacked native ships only.

The Company's records do not mention the loss of a single English ship at Every's hands, a circumstance that no doubt told heavily against the English in native opinion at Surat.
The same ships that brought Every's letter to Sir John Gayer brought intelligence of a well-known French pirate having got aground at Mohilla.
The three Company's ships watering at Johanna, heard of the occurrence, and proceeded to the spot, burnt the French ship after taking out what treasure was on board, and captured six of the Frenchmen, who were brought to Bombay.

Every's friendly warning about the '160 od French armed men' evidently referred to the wrecked crew.
The value of Perim, or Bab's Key, as it was then called by mariners, to command the trade of the Red Sea, was at once perceived by Every, who attempted to make a settlement there.

After some unprofitable digging for water, he abandoned the project, and established himself in Madagascar, which had before this become known as a pirate resort.