However, he comforted himself by giving very particular accounts of how his mistress had been barbarously murdered by banditti; and the good city talked incessantly of the murder, till set right next day by the greater marvel of the escape.
Source: wiktionary
I was reminded of this by an entry in the Westleton Churchwarden's Account for 1731-2 which records the sum of one shilling and sixpence having been given to 'fifteen seamen in company, which had been taken by ye pyrates and very barbarously used'.
Source: wiktionary