CHAPTER VIII.
_EXPEDITION AGAINST COLABA_ Measures taken in England against pirates--Woodes Rogers at the Bahamas--Edward Teach--Challoner Ogle--Bartholomew Roberts killed--Matthews sent to the East Indies--Naval officers' duels--Portuguese alliance--Expedition against Colaba--Assault--Defeat--A split in the alliance--Plot against Boone--His departure--Matthews' schemes--His insulting behaviour--He quarrels with everybody--Goes to Madagascar--The King of Ranter Bay--Matthews goes to Bengal.
As long as their forces had been occupied with the French war and the Highland rising, the English ministry had been powerless to check the depredations of the pirates, which had become intolerable both in the East and West Indies.

Now Europe was at peace, and measures could be concerted to put a stop to the evil.

As usual, the Peace of Utrecht was followed by an increase of piracy, through the privateersmen being thrown out of employment.
On the 5th September, 1717, a royal proclamation was published, offering a free pardon, to all pirates on the American coast surrendering within one year, for all piracies committed before the 5th January.

As rewards for the capture of pirate ships, to every captain L100, to other officers L40, to petty officers L30, and to ordinary seamen L20 were to be paid on conviction of the offenders.

To pirates, a reward of L200 was offered for the surrender of a pirate captain or commander before the 6th September, 1718.