In this course, very little time will be wasted pondering the unpleasant thought of being caught, tried and hanged in chains. It is, however, interesting to note the manner in which Edward ‘Blackbeard’ Teach met his end. It differs, of course, according to various accounts, but the most interesting comes from The Boston News Letter, 23 February to 2 March 1719. The report was brought by a sloop from North Carolina on 12 February. Blackbeard tried to take the ship of a naval officer named Maynard. Maynard was understandably unhappy about this, so they had a fight, which the Boston Newsletter reported thus:

Maynard and Teach themselves begun the fight with their swords, Maynard making a thrust, the point of his sword went against Teach’s cartridge box, and bended it to the hilt. Teach broke the guard of it, and wounded Maynard’s fingers but did not disable him, whereupon he jumped back and threw away his sword and fired his pistol which wounded Teach…one of Maynard’s men being a Highlander, engaged Teach with his broad sword, who gave Teach a cut on the neck, Teach saying well done lad; the Highlander replied, If it be not well done, I’ll do it better. With that he gave him a second stroke, which cut off his head, laying flat on his shoulder.

Dear Captain Johnson tells us that Blackbeard ‘fought with great fury till he received five-and-twenty wounds and five of them by shot’. Johnson concurs that Blackbeard was beheaded, although he relates it as happening afterwards, having been ordered by Lieutenant Maynard. Considering what he used to do to his wives, we don't care how he died (see 'Sex and the Seas'); we're just glad the bastard's dead.

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