How often merchant crews resisted pirates?

[Swashbuckler 1700]

I am pretty sure there is no actual thread for this but if you know better put this in correct place. I found no thread for this simple issue

Alright so I think the general consensus seems to be that the prey ships usually surrendered to pirates after some warning shots etc. So all in all there weren't that much fighting.

However there are cases when there was resistance.

I have posted this not rare quote before but I think I post it here too:

In an account of the engagement between the English East India Company

ship Cassandra and the pirate Edward England in July 1720, Captain James McRae

described how his opponent attacked with two vessels, one of 30 guns and the

Fancy of 34 guns.

Originally from old account but now as it was on book "Scourge of the Seas: Buccaneers, Pirates and Privateers"

By Angus Konstam (Osprey, 2007)

"For though we did not doubt that he [the Greenwich] would join us, because

when he got about a league from us, he brought his ship to, and look'd on, yet

both he and the Osunder basely deserted us, and left us engaged with barbarous

and inhuman enemies, with their black and bloody flags hanging over us, without

the least appearance of escaping being cut to pieces. But God, in his good

Providence determined otherwise, for notwithstanding their Superiority, we

engaged them both about three hours, during which the biggest received some

shot betwixt wind & water, which made them keep off a little to stop their leaks.

The other endeavoured all she could to board us, by rowing with her oars,

being with half a ship's length of us above an Hour, but by good Fortune we shot

all her oars to pieces, which prevented them, and by consequence, saved our lives.

About 4 o'clock, most of the Officers and men posted on the quarterdeck

being killed and wounded, the largest ship making up to us with all diligence,

being still within a cable's length of us, and often giving us a Broadside, and no

hope of Captain Kirby coming to our Assistance, we endeavour'd to run ashore;

and tho' we drew four foot of water more than the pyrate, it pleased God that he

stuck fast on a higher ground than we happily fell in with; so was dissapoint'd a

second time from boarding us.

Here we had a more violent engagement than before. All my Officers, and

most of my men behav'd with unexpected Courage,&- as we had considerable

advantage by having a broadside to his bow, we did him great damage, so that

had Captain Kirby come in then, I believe we should have taken both, for we

had one of them for sure, but the other pyrate (who was still firing at us) seeing

the Greenwich did not offer to assist us. He supplied his Consort with three

boats full of fresh men. About 5 in the evening, the Greenwich stood clear away

to Sea, leaving us struggling hard for life in the very jaws of death, which the

other pyrate, that was now afloat, seeing this, got a warp out, and was hauling

under our Stern, by which time many of my men were killed or wounded, and

no hopes left of us from being all murdered by enraged barbarous Conquerors,

I order'd all that could, to get into the longboat under the cover of the smoke of

our guns, so that with what some did in boats, & others by swimming, most of

us that were able reached ashoar by 7 0' clock. When the Pyrates came aboard,

they cut three of our wounded men to pieces. I, with a few of my people, made

what haste I could to the Kingstown, 25 miles from us, where I arrived next day,

almost dead with fatigue and loss of blood, having been sorely wounded in the

Head by a musket ball."

Edited June 14, 2013 by Swashbuckler 1700