The pirates of the New England coast, 1630-1730

by George Francis Dow; John Henry Edmonds

FOOTNOTES

[101] Edward Low and Eliza Marble were married by Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth of the First Church, Boston, on Aug. 12, 1714.

[102] Elizabeth Low married James Burt, Dec. 7, 1739, in Boston.

[103] A full account of this outrage was afterwards printed in the Boston News-Letter of April 30, 1722.

[104] New England Courant, June 18, 1722.

[105] These Articles are similar to Captain Lowther’s with some additions.

[106] Boston News-Letter, Sept 17, 1722.

[107] American Weekly Mercury, May 9, 1723.

[108] See Chapter XIV.

CHAPTER XI
Captain Roberts’ Account of what Happened on Low’s Ship

Captain George Roberts sailed from London in September, 1721, mate of the ship “King Sagamore,” twenty-two guns, Capt. Andrew Scott, commander, bound for the Barbadoes and Virginia where he was to take command of a sloop and buy a cargo to slave with on the coast of Guinea. After various delays he reached the Cape Verde islands in the sloop “Margaret,” “sixty ton of cask,” and at Curisal Road, on the island of St. Nicholas, was taken by the pirate fleet of which Capt. Ned Low was commodore. Captain Roberts afterwards recounted his adventures in a volume published[109] in London, from which the following account is taken.

“When I came on board the Rose Pink, the Company welcomed me on board, and said, They were sorry for my Loss; but told me, I must go to pay my Respects to the Captain, who was in the Cabbin, and waited for me. I was ushered in by an Officer, who, I think, was their Gunner, and who, by his Deportment, acted as though he had been Master of the Ceremonies; tho’ I do not remember to have heard of such an Officer or Office mentioned among them, neither do I know whether they are always so formal on Board their Commodore, at the first Reception of their captivated Masters of Vessels. When I came into the Cabbin, the Officer who conducted me thither, after paying his Respects to the Commodore, told him, That I was the Master of the Sloop which they had taken the Day before, and then withdrew out of the Cabbin, leaving us two alone.

“Captain Loe, with the usual Compliment, welcomed me on board, and told me, He was very sorry for my Loss, and that it was not his Desire to meet with any of his Country-men, but rather with Foreigners, excepting some few that he wanted to chastise for their Rogueishness, as he call’d it: But however, says he, since Fortune has ordered it so, that you have fallen into our Hands, I would have you to be of good Cheer, and not to be cast down. I told him, That I also was very sorry, that it was my Chance to fall into their Way; but still encouraged myself in the Hopes, that I was in the Hands of Gentlemen of Honour and Generosity; it being still in their Power whether to make this their Capture of me, a Misfortune or not. He said, It did not lie in his particular Power; for he was but one Man, and all Business of this Nature, must be done in Publick, and by a Majority of Votes by the whole Company; and though neither he, nor, he believed, any of the Company, desired to meet with any of their own Nation (except some few Persons for the Reasons before-mention’d) yet when they did, it could not well be avoided, but that they must take as their own what Providence sent them: And as they were Gentlemen, who entirely depended upon Fortune, they durst not be so ungrateful to her, as to refuse any Thing which she put into their Way; for if they should despise any of her Favours, tho’ never so mean, they might offend her, and thereby cause her to withdraw her Hand from them; and so, perhaps, they might perish for want of those Things, which in their rash Folly they slighted. He then, in a very obliging Tone, desired me to sit down, he himself all this Time not once moving from his Seat, which was one of the great Guns, though there were Chairs enough in the Cabbin; but I suppose, he thought he should not appear so martial, or Hero-like, if he sat on a Chair, as he did on a great Gun.

“After I had sat down, he asked me, What I would drink? I thank’d him, and told him, I did not much Care for drinking; but out of a Sense of the Honour he did me in asking, I would drink any Thing with him which he pleased to drink. He told me, It would not avail me any Thing to be cast down: It was Fortune of War, and grieving or vexing myself, might be of no good Consequence in respect to my Health; besides, it would be more taking, he said, with the Company, to appear brisk, lively, and with as little Concern as I could. And come, says he, you may, and I hope you will, have better Fortune hereafter. So ringing the Cabbin-bell, and one of his Valet de Chambres, or rather Valet de Cabins, appearing, he commanded him to make a Bowl of Punch, in the great Bowl, which was a rich silver one, and held, I believe, about two Gallons; which being done, he ordered likewise some Wine to be set on the Table, and accordingly two Bottles of Claret were brought; and then he took the Bowl and drank to me in Punch; but bid me pledge him in which I liked best; which I did in Wine. He told me, That what he could favour me in, he would, and wished that it had been my Fortune to have been taken by them ten Days or a Fortnight sooner; for then, he said, they had abundance of good Commodities, which they took in 2 Portugueze outward-bound Brasile Men, viz. Cloth, as well Linens as Woollens, both fine and coarse, Hats of all sorts, Silk, Iron, and other rich Goods in abundance, and believed, he could have prevailed with the Company even to have loaded my Sloop. But now they had no Goods at all, he believed, having disposed of them all, either by giving them to other Prizes, &c. or heaving the rest into David Jones’s Locker (i.e. the Sea); but did not know, but it might be his Lot, perhaps, to meet with me again, when it might lie in his Way to make me a Retaliation for my present Loss; and he did assure me, that when such an Occasion, as he was but now a speaking of, offered, I might depend he would not be wanting to serve me in any Thing that might turn to my Advantage, as far as his Power or Interest could reach. I could do no less, in common Civility, and the Truth is, I dared do no less, than thank him....

“I was order’d to remain on Board the Commodore till by a general Vote of the Company it should be determin’d how I and the Sloop were to be dispos’d of; and Captain Loe ordered a Hammock and Bedding to be fix’d for me, and told me, That he would not oblige me to sit up later than I thought fit, nor drink more than suited my own Inclination; and that he lik’d my Company no longer than his was agreeable to me; adding, That there should be no Confinement or Obligation as to drinking, or sitting up, but I might drink, and go to sleep, when I pleas’d, without any Exceptions being taken, ordering me to want for nothing that was on Board; for I was very welcome to anything that was there, as to Eatables and Drinkables. I thank’d him, and told him, I would, with all due Gratefulness, make Use of that Freedom which he was so generous to offer me, &c. About Eight a-Clock at Night I took my Leave of him, and went to my Hammock, where I continued all Night, with Thoughts roving and perplex’d enough, not being able, as yet, to guess what they design’d to do with me, whether they intended to give me the Sloop again, or to burn her, as I heard it toss’d about by some, or to keep me as a Prisoner on Board, or put me ashoar.

“My two Boys and Mate remained still on Board the Sloop, but all the rest they took on Board of them, not once so much as asking them whether they would Enter with them, only demanding their Names, which the Steward writ down in their Roll-Book.

“About eight a-Clock in the Morning I turn’d out, and went upon Deck, and as I was walking backwards and forwards, as is usual amongst us Sailors, there came up one of the Company to me, and bid me Good-Morrow, and told me, He was very sorry for my Misfortune. I answer’d, So was I: He look’d at me, and said, He believ’d I did not know him. I replied, It was true, I did not know him; neither, at present, could I call to mind that ever I had seen him before in the whole Course of my Life. He smil’d, and said, He once belong’d to me, and sail’d with me when I was Commander of the Susannah in the Year 1718 (At that Time I was Master of a Ship call’d the Susannah, about the Burthen of 300 Tons, whereof was sole Owner Mr. Richard Stephens, Merchant, living at this present writing in Shad-Thames, Southwark Side, near London——) In the Interim came up two more, who told me they all belong’d to me in the Susannah, at one Time. By this time I had recollected my Memory so far as just to call them to Mind, and that was all; and then I told them I did remember them. They said, they were truly very sorry for my Misfortune, and would do all that lay in their Power to serve me, and told me, they had among them the Quantity of about 40 or 50 Pieces of white Linnen Cloth, and 6 or 8 Pieces of Silk, besides some other Things; and they would also, they said, make what Interest they could for me with their Consorts and Intimates, and with them would make a Gathering for me of what Things they could, and would put it on Board for me as soon as the Company had determined that I should have my Sloop again. They then look’d about them as tho’ they had something to say that they were not willing any body should hear; but as it happen’d, there was no body nigh us, which was an Opportunity very rare in these Sort of Ships, of speaking without Interruption: But we lying too all Night, no body had any thing to do, but the Lookers-out, at the Topmast-head; the Mate of the Watch, Quarter-master of the Watch, Helmsman, &c. being gone down to drink a Dram, I suppose, or to smoak a Pipe of Tobacco, or the like. However it was, we had the Quarter Deck intire to our selves, and they seeing the Coast clear, told me, with much seeming Concern, That if I did not take abundance of Care, they would force me to stay with them, for my Mate had inform’d them, that I was very well acquainted on the Coast of Brasile, and they were bound down along the Coast of Guinea, and afterwards design’d to stretch over to the Coast of Brasile: That there was not one Man of all the Company that had ever been upon any Part of that Coast; and that there was but one Way for me to escape being forced; but I must be very close, and not discover what they were going to tell me; for if it was known that they had divulg’d it, notwithstanding they were enter’d Men, and as much of the Company as any of them, yet they were sure it would cost them no smaller a Price for it than their Lives. I told them, I was very much obliged to them for their Goodwill, and did not wish them to have any Occasion for my Service; but if ever it should be so, they might depend it should be to the utmost of my Power; and as for my betraying any thing that they should tell me of, they could not fear that, because my own Interest would be a sufficient Tye upon me to the contrary; and were it not so, and that I was sure to get Mountains of Gold by divulging it to their Prejudice, I would sooner suffer my Tongue to be pluck’d out.

“They said, they did not much fear my revealing it, because the disclosing it would rather be a Prejudice to me than an Advantage, and therefore out of pure Respect to me they would tell me; which was thus: You must know, said they, that we have an Article which we are sworn to, which is, not to force any married Man, against his Will, to serve us: Now we have been at a close Consultation whether we should oblige you to go with us, not as one of the Company, but as a forc’d Prisoner, in order to be our Pilot on the Coast of Brasile, where we are designed to Cruise, and hope to make our Voyage; and your Mate, continued they, has offer’d to Enter with us, but desires to defer it till we have determined your Case. Now your Mate, as yet, is ignorant of our Articles, we never exposing them to any till they are going to sign them. He was ask’d, Whether you was married or not? and he said, he could not tell for certain, but believed you was not: Upon which we spoke, and said, we had known you several Years, and had sail’d with you in a Frigat-built Ship of 300 Tons, or more: That you was an extraordinary good Man to your Men, both for Usage and Payment; and that, to our Knowledge, you was married, and had four Children then: However, there is one Man who would fain have the Company break through their Oath on that Article, and tells them, they may, and ought to do it, because it is a Case of Necessity, they having no Possibility of getting a Pilot at present for that Coast, except they take you: And in their Run along the Coast of Guinea, if they should light of any body that was acquainted with the Coast of Brasile, and no way exempted from serving them by the Articles, then they might take him, and turn you ashore, but ’till such offer’d, he did not see but the Oath might be dispens’d with; but, continued they, Captain Loe is very much against it, and told them, That it would be an ill Precedent, and of bad Consequence; for if we once take the Liberty of breaking our Articles and Oath, then there is none of us can be sure of any thing: If, said Captain Loe, you can perswade the Man upon any Terms to stay with us as a Prisoner, or otherwise, well and good; if not, do not let us break the Laws that we have made our selves, and sworn to. They went on, and told me, That most of the Company seem’d to agree with Captain Loe’s Opinion, but Russel, said they, seem’d to be sadly nettled at it, that his Advice was not to be taken; and, continued they, you will be ask’d the Question, we reckon, by and by, when Russel comes on Board, and all the Heads meet again; but you must be sure to say you are married, and have five or six Children; for it is only that, that will prevent your being forced; tho’, you may depend upon it, Russel will do what he can to perswade the Company to break the Article, which we hope they will not, nor shall they ever have our Consent; and, indeed, there are very few of the Company but what are against it, but Russel bears a great Sway in the Company, and can almost draw them any Way. However, we have put you in the best Method that we can, and hope it will do: But, for fear Notice should be taken of our being so long together, we have told you as much as we can, and leave you to manage it; and so God bless you.

“Upon this, away they went, and by-and-by Captain Loe turns out, and comes upon Deck, and bidding me Good-morrow, ask’d me, How I did? and how I lik’d my Bed? I thank’d him, and told him, I was very well, at his Service, and lik’d my Bed very well, and was very much obliged to him for the Care he had taken of me. After which, he order’d a Consultation Signal to be made, which was their Green Trumpeter, as they call’d him, hoisted at the Mizen-Peek: It was a green silk Flag, with a yellow Figure of a Man blowing a Trumpet on it. The Signal being made, away came the Boats flocking on Board the Commodore, and when they were all come on Board, Captain Loe told them, He only wanted them to Breakfast with him; so down they went into the Cabbin, as many as it would well hold, and the rest in the Steerage, and where they could.

“After Breakfast, Captain Loe ask’d me, If I was married? and how many Children I had? I told him, I had been married about ten Years, and had five Children when I came from Home, and did not know but I might have six now, one being on the Stocks when I came from Home. He asked me, Whether I had left my Wife well provided for, when I came from Home? I told him, I had left her in but very indifferent Circumstances: That having met with former Misfortunes, I was so low reduc’d, that the greatest Part of my Substance was in this Sloop and Cargo; and that, if I was put by this Trip, I did not know but my Family might want Bread before I could supply them.

“Loe then turning to Russel, said, It will not do, Russel. What will not do, said Russel? Loe answer’d, You know who I mean; we must not, and it shall not be, by G—d. It must, and shall, by G—d, reply’d Russel; Self-Preservation is the first Law of Nature, and Necessity, according to the old Proverb, has no Law. Well, says Loe, It shall never be with my Consent. Hereupon most of the Company said, It was a Pity, and ought to be taken into Consideration, and seriously weighed amongst them, and then put to the Vote. At which Loe said, So it ought, and there is nothing like the Time present to decide the Controversy, and to determine the Matter. They all answered, Ay, it was best to end it now.

“Then Loe ordered them all to go upon Deck, and bid me stay in the Cabbin; so up they went all hands, and I sat still and smoak’d a Pipe of Tobacco, Wine and Punch being left on the Table: And tho’ I was very impatient to know the Determination, sometimes hoping it would be in my Favour, and sometimes fearing the contrary; yet I durst not go out of the Cabbin to hear what they said, nor make any Enquiry about it.

“After they had been upon Deck about two Hours, they came down again, and Loe ask’d me, How I did? and how I lik’d my Company since they went upon Deck? I thank’d him, and said, I was very well, at his Service; and as for my Company, I lik’d it very well, and it was Company that few would dislike. Why, said he, I thought you had been all alone ever since we went upon Deck. I answer’d, How could you think, Sir, that I was alone, when you left me three such boon, jolly Companions to keep me Company?

“Z—ds, says Loe, and seem’d a little angry, I left no-body, and ordered no-body but the Boy Jack, and him I bid stay at the Cabbin-Door, with-out-side, and not go in, nor stir from the Door, ’till I bid him. But, I said, Sir, my three Companions were not humane Bodies, but those which you left on the Table, to wit, a Pipe of Tobacco, a Bottle of French Claret, and a Bowl of Punch; at which they all laugh’d, and Loe said, I was right: So after some Discourses had pass’d by way of Diversion, Russel said to me. Master, your Sloop is very Leaky; I said, Yes, she made Water. Water! says he, I do not know what you could do with her, suppose we were to give her to you. Besides, you have no Hands, for all your Hands now belong to us. I said, Sirs, if you please to give her to me, I do not fear, with God’s Blessing, but to manage her well enough, if you let me have only those which are on Board, which I hope you will: namely, my Mate and the two Boys. Well, says he, and suppose we did, you have no Cargo, for we have taken, to replenish our Stores, all the Rum, Sugar, Tobacco, Rice, Flower, and, in short, all your Cargo and Provisions. I told him, I would do as well as I could, and if the worst came to the worst, I could load the Sloop with Salt, and carry it to the Canaries, where, I knew, they were in great Want of Salt at present, and therefore was sure it would come to a good Market there: Ay, but, says he, how will you do to make your Cargo of Salt, having no Hands, and having nothing wherewith to hire the Natives to help you to make it, or to pay for their bringing it down on their Asses; for you must believe, said he, I understand Trade. I told him, If it did come to that Extremity, I had so good Interest both at the Island of Bona Vist, as likewise at the Isle of May, that I was sure the Inhabitants would assist me all that they could, and trust me for their Pay till I return’d again; especially when they came to know the Occasion that oblig’d me to it; and that, upon the Whole, I did not fear, with God’s Blessing, to get a Cargo of Salt on Board, if they would be so generous as to give me the Sloop again. Well but, says Russel, suppose we should let you have the Sloop, and that you could do as you say, what would you do for Provisions? for we shall leave you none; and I suppose I need not tell you, for, without doubt, you know it already, that all these Islands to Windward are in great Scarcity of Victuals, and especially the two Islands that produce the Salt, which have been oppress’d for many Years with a sore Famine. I told him, I was very sensible that all he said last was true, but hop’d, if they gave me the Sloop, they would also be so generous as to give me some Provisions, a small quantity of which would serve my little Company; but if not, I could go down to the Leeward Islands, where, likewise, I had some small Interest, and I did not doubt but I could have a small Matter of such Provisions as the Islands afforded, namely, Maiz, Pompions, Feshunes, &c. with which, by God’s Assistance, we would endeavour to make shift, ’till it pleased God we could get better. Ay but, says he, perhaps your Mate and Boys will not be willing to run that Hazard with you, nor care to endure such Hardship. I told him, As for my Boys, I did not fear their Compliance, and hop’d my Mate would also do the same, seeing I requir’d him to undergo no other Hardship but what I partook of myself. Ay, but, says Russel, Your Mate has not the same Reasons as you have, to induce him to bear with all those Hardships, which you must certainly be exposed to in doing what you propose; and therefore you cannot expect him to be very forward in accepting such hard Terms with you; (tho’ I cannot conceive it to be so easie to go through with, in the Manner you propose, as you seem to make it). I answer’d, As for the Mate’s Inclinations, I was not able positively to judge in this Affair, but I believed him to be an honest, as well as a conscientious Man, and as I had been very civil to him in several Respects, in my Prosperity, so I did not doubt, if I had the Liberty to talk with him a little on this Affair, but he would be very willing to undergo as much Hardship to extricate me out of this my Adversity, as he could well bear, or I in Reason require of him, which would be no more than I should bear myself; and when it pleased God to turn the Scales, I would endeavour to make him Satisfaction to the full of what, in reason, he could expect, or, at least, as far as I was able.

“Come, come, says Captain Loe, let us drink about. Boy! how does the Dinner go forward? The Boy answer’d, Very well, Sir. Says Loe, Gentlemen, you must all Dine with me to Day. They unanimously answer’d, Ay: Come then, says Loe, toss the Bowl about, and let us have a fresh One, and call a fresh Cause.

“They all agreed to this, and then began to talk of their past Transactions at Newfoundland, the Western Islands, Canary Islands, &c. What Ships they had taken, and how they serv’d them when in their Possession; and how they oblig’d the Governor of the Island of St. Michael to send them off two Boat-Loads of fresh Meat, Greens, Wine, Fowls, &c. or otherwise, threatened to damnifie the Island, by burning some of the small Vilages: Of their Landing on the Island of Teneriff, to the Northward of Oratavo, in hopes of meeting with a Booty, but got nothing but their Skins full of Wine; and how they had like to have been surpriz’d by the Country, which was raised upon that Occasion, but got all off safe, and without any Harm, except one Man, who receiv’d a Shot in his Thigh after they were got into their Boats; but, they said, they caused several of the Spaniards to drop; and, That they should have been certainly lost, if they had tarried but half a quarter of an Hour longer in the House where they were drinking, and where they expected to get the Booty, which they Landed in quest of, according to the Information given them by one of the Inhabitants of the Island, who was taken by them in a Fishing-Boat, and told them, that, that Gentleman had an incredible Quantity of Money, as well as Plate, in his House: And on this Occasion they threatened the poor Fisherman how severely they would punish him for giving them a false Information, if ever they should light of him again; but, I suppose, the Fellow kept close ashore after they let him go, all the Time they lay lurking about the Island: They also boasted how many French Ships they had taken upon the Banks of Newfoundland, and what a vast Quantity of Wine, especially French Claret, they took from them; with abundance of such like Stuff; which, as it did not immediately concern me, so I shall not trouble myself with particularizing: And, indeed, my Attention was so wholly taken up with the Uncertainty of my own Affairs, that I gave no great Heed to those Subjects that were foreign to me; and which, for that Reason, made but a slight Impression on my Memory.

“In this Manner they pass’d the Time away, drinking and carousing merrily, both before and after Dinner, which they eat in a very disorderly Manner, more like a Kennel of Hounds, than like Men, snatching and catching the Victuals from one another; which, tho’ it was very odious to me, it seem’d one of their chief Diversions, and, they said, look’d Martial-like.

“Before it was quite dark, every one repaired on Board their respective Vessels, and about Eight a-Clock at Night I went to my Hammock, without observing, as I remember, any thing worth remarking, save, that Captain Loe, and I, and three or four more, drank a couple of Bottles of Wine after the Company were gone, before we went to Sleep, in which time we had abundance of Discourse concerning Church and State, as also about Trade, which would be tedious to relate in that confused Manner we talked of these Subjects, besides the Reason I just now mentioned.

“Loe stay’d up after me, and when I was in my Hammock, I heard him give the necessary Orders for the Night, which were, that they were to lie too with their Head to the North Westward, as, indeed, we had ever since I had been on Board of him; to mind the Top-light, and for the Watch, to be sure, above all things, to keep a good Look-out; and to call him if they saw any thing, or if the other Ships made any Signals.

“I passed this Night as the former, ruminating on my present unhappy Condition, not yet being able to dive into, or fathom their Designs, or what they intended to do with me, and often thinking on what the three Men told me, as also on what the Company said, but in a more particular manner, of what Russel told me concerning my Mate, ’till Sleep overpowered my Senses, and gave me a short Recess from my Troubles.

“In the Morning, about five a-Clock, I turned out, and a little after, one of the three Men who spoke to me the Morning before, came to me, and bid me Good-morrow, and ask’d me very courteously how I did? and told me, that they would all three, as before, have come and spoke to me, but were afraid the Company, especially Russel’s Friends, would think they held a secret Correspondence with me, which was against one of their Articles, it being punishable by Death, to hold any secret Correspondence with a Prisoner; but they hop’d all would be well, and that they believ’d I should have my Sloop again; Russel being the only Man who endeavour’d to hinder it, and he only, on the Account of having me to go with them on the Coast of Brasile; but that most of the Company was against it, except the meer Creatures of Russel. He said, I might thank my Mate for it all, who, he much fear’d, would prove a Rogue to me, and Enter with them; and then, if they should give me my Sloop, I should be sadly put to it to manage her myself, with one Boy, and the little Child. He also said, That he, and the other two, heartily wish’d they could go with me in her, but that it was impossible to expect it, it being Death even to motion it, by another of their Articles, which says, That if any of the Company shall advise, or speak any thing tending to the separating or breaking of the Company, or shall by any Means offer or endeavour to desert or quit the Company, that Person shall be shot to Death by the Quarter-Master’s Order, without the Sentence of a Court-Martial. He added, That ’till my Mate had given Russel an Account of my being acquainted on the Coast of Brasile, he seem’d to be my best Friend, and would certainly have prov’d so, and would have prevail’d with the Company to have made a Gathering for me, which, perhaps, might not have come much short in Value of what they had taken from me; for there was but few in the Company but had several Pieces of Linnen Cloth, Pieces of Silk, spare Hats, Shoes, Stockings, gold Lace, and abundance of other Goods, besides the publick Store, which, if Russel had continued my Friend, for one Word speaking, there was not one of them but would have contributed to make up my Loss; it being usual for them to reserve such Things for no other Use but to give to any whom they should take, or that formerly was of their Acquaintance, or that they took a present Liking to: He said farther, That he believ’d Captain Loe would be my Friend, and do what he could for me; but that, in Opposition to Russel, he could do but little, Russel bearing twice the Sway with the Company, that Captain Loe did; and that Russel was always more considerate to those they took, than Loe; but now I must expect no Favour from him, he was so exasperated by the Opposition that the Company, and especially Captain Loe, made to my being forc’d to go with them on the Coast of Brasile: He, however, bid me have a good Heart, and wish’d it lay in his Power to serve me more than it did, and bid me not to take very much Notice, or shew much Freedom with them, but rather a seeming Indifference: Adding, That he and his two Consorts wish’d me as well as Heart could wish, and whatever Service they could do me, while among them, I might assure myself it should not be wanting; desiring me to excuse him, and not take amiss his withdrawing from me; concluding, with Tears in his Eyes, that he did not know whether he should have another Opportunity of private Discourse with me; neither would it be for the Advantage of either of us, except some new Matter offer’d them Occasion to forewarn, or precaution me, which, if it did, one of them would not fail to acquaint me with it: And so he left me.

“Some time after, Captain Loe turn’d out, and after the usual Compliments pass’d, we took a Dram of Rum, and enter’d into Discourse with one or another, on different Subjects; for as a Tavern or Alehouse-keeper endeavours to promote his Trade, by conforming to the Humours of every Customer, so was I forc’d to be pleasant with every one, and bear a Bob with them in almost all their Sorts of Discourse, tho’ never so contrary and disagreeable to my own Inclinations; otherwise I should have fallen under an Odium with them, and when once that happens to be the Case with any poor Man, the Lord have Mercy upon him; for then every rascally Fellow will let loose his Brutal Fancy upon him, and either abuse him with his Tongue (which is the least hurtful) or kick or cuff him, or otherways abuse him, as they are more or less cruel, or artificially raised by Drinking, Passion, &c.

“Captain Russel, with some more, came on Board about ten or eleven a-Clock in the Forenoon, and seem’d to be very pleasant to me, asking me how I did? telling me, that he had been considering of what I said Yesterday, and could not see, how I should be able to go through with it: That it would be very difficult, if not wholly impossible, and I should run a very great Hazard in what I propos’d. He believed, he said, that I was a Man, and a Man of Understanding, but in this Case I rather seem’d to be directed by an obstinate Desperation, than by Reason; and for his Part, since I was so careless of myself as to determine to throw myself away, he did not think it would stand with the Credit or Reputation of the Company, to put it into my Power. He wish’d me well, he said, and did assure me, that the Thoughts of me had taken him up the greatest Part of the Night; and he had hit on a Way which, he was sure, would be much more to my Advantage, and not expose me to so much Hazard and Danger, and yet would be more profitable, than I could expect by having the Sloop, tho’ every thing was to fall out to exceed my Expectation; and did not doubt of the Company’s agreeing to it: And this, says he, is, to take and sink or burn your Sloop, and keep you with us no otherwise than as you are now, viz. a Prisoner; and I promise you, and will engage to get the Company to sign and agree to it, the first Prize we take, if you like her; and if not, you shall stay with us till we take a Prize that you like, and you shall have her with all her Cargo, to dispose of how and where you please, for your own proper Use. He added, that this, perhaps, might be the making of me, and put me in a Capacity of leaving off the Sea, and living ashore, if I was so inclin’d; protesting, that he did all this purely out of Respect to me, because he saw I was a Man of Sense, as he said, and was willing to take Care and Pains to get a Living for myself and Family.

“I thank’d him, and told him, I was sorry I could not accept of his kind Offer; and hoped he would excuse me, and not impute it to an obstinate Temper; because, I said, I did not perceive it would be of any Advantage to me, but rather the Reverse; for I could not see how I should be able to dispose of the Ship, or any Part of her Cargo; because no Body would buy, except I had a lawful Power to sell; and they all certainly knew, they had no farther Right to any Ship or Goods that they took, than so long as such Ship or Goods was within the Verge of their Power; which, they were sensible, could not extend so far, as to reach any Place where such Sale could be made: Besides, I said, if the Owners of any such Ship or Goods should ever come to hear of it, then should I be liable to make them Restitution, to the full Value of such Ship and Cargo, or be oblig’d to lie in a Prison the remaining Part of my Days; or, perhaps, by a more rigid Prosecution of the Law against my Person, run a Hazard of my Life.

“Russel said, These were but needless and groundless Scruples, and might easily be evaded: As for my having a Right to make Sale of the Ship and Cargo, which they would give me, they could easily make me a Bill of Sale of the Ship, and such other necessary Powers in Writing, as were sufficient to justify my Title to it beyond all Possibility of Suspicion; so that I should not have any Reason to fear my being detected in the Sale: And as for my Apprehension of being discover’d to the Owners, that might as easily be prevented; for they should always know, by Examination of the Master, &c. and also by the Writings taken on board such Ship (which they always took Care to seize upon) who were the Owners and Merchants concern’d in both Ship and Cargo, as also their Places of Abode; by which I might be able to shun a Possibility of their discovering me: Adding, That I might have the Powers and Writings made in another Name, which I might go by ’till I had finish’d the Business, and then could assume my own; which Method would certainly secure me from all Possibility of Discovery.

“I told him, I must confess, there was not only a Probability, but a seeming Certainty, in what he said, and that it argued abundance of Wit in the Contrivance; but, I assur’d him, that were I positively certain, which I could not be, that ’till the Hour of my Death it would not be discover’d, yet there was still a strong Motive to deter me from accepting it; which, tho’ it might seem, perhaps, to them to be of no Weight, and but a meer Chimera, yet it had greater Force with me than all the Reasons I had hitherto mention’d; and that was my Conscience; which would be a continual Witness against me, and a constant Sting, even when, perhaps, no Body would accuse me: And as there could be no hearty and unfeigned Repentance, without making a full Restitution, as far as I was able, to the injur’d Person; I ask’d them, What Benefit would it be to me, if I got Thousands of Pounds, and could not be at Peace with my Conscience, ’till I had restor’d every Thing to the proper Owners, and after all, remain as I was before? A great deal more, I told them, I could say upon this Head; but doubted that Discourses of this Nature were not very taking with some of them, and might seem of very little Account; Yet I hope, said I, and God forbid that there should not be some of you, who have a Thought of a great and powerful God, and a Consciousness of his impartial Justice to punish, as well as of his unfathomable Mercy to pardon Offenders upon their unfeigned Repentance, which would not so far extend as to encourage us to run on in sinning, thereby presuming to impose on his Mercy.

“Some of them said, I should do well to preach a Sermon, and would make them a good Chaplain. Others said, No, they wanted no Godliness to be preach’d there: That Pirates had no God but their Money, nor Saviour but their Arms. Others said, That I had said nothing but what was very good, true, and rational, and they wish’d that Godliness, or, at least, some Humanity, were in more Practice among them; which they believ’d, would be more to their Reputation, and cause a greater Esteem to be had for them, both from God and Man.

“After this, a Silence follow’d; which Capt. Russel broke, saying to me again, Master, as to your Fear that you wrong your Neighbour in taking a Ship from us, which we first took from him; in my Judgment, it is groundless and without Cause; nor is it a Breach of the Laws of God or Man, as far as I am able to apprehend; for you do not take their Goods from them, nor usurp their Property: That we have done without your Advice, Concurrence, or Assistance; and therefore whatever Sin or Guilt follows that Action, it is intirely Ours, and, in my Opinion, cannot extend to make any unconcern’d Person guilty with us. It is plain, beyond disputing, continu’d he, that you can be no Way Partaker with us in any Capture, while you are only a constrain’d Prisoner, neither giving your Advice or Consent, or any Ways assisting; and therefore it may be most certainly concluded, that it is We only that have invaded the Right, and usurp’d the Property of another; and that you must be innocent, and cannot be Partaker of the Crime, unless concern’d in that Action that made it a Crime. But you seem to allow, that we have a Property, while we are in Possession; but, added he, I suppose you think, that all the Claim we have to the Ships and Goods that we take, is by an Act of Violence, and therefore unjust, and of no longer Force than while we are capable to maintain them by the same superior Strength by which we obtain’d them.

“I told him, I could not express my Conceptions of it better or fuller, I thought, than he had done; but hoped, neither he, nor Capt. Loe, nor any of the Gentlemen present, would be offended at my taking so much Liberty; which was rather to acquaint them with my Reasons for not being able to accept of their kind Offer, than to give any Gentleman Offence; adding, That I had so much Confidence in their Favours, that, if I could have accepted them, I verily believ’d, they would all have concurred with Capt. Russel in what he so kindly and friendly design’d me.

“At which Words they all cry’d, Ay, Ay, by G—, and that I was deserving of that and more.

“I told them, I heartily thank’d them all in general, and did not wish any of them so unfortunate, as to stand in Need of my Service; yet, if ever they did, they should find, that the uttermost of my Ability should not be wanting in Retaliation of all the Civilities they had shewn me, ever since it was my Lot to fall into their Hands; but, in a more especial Manner, for this their now offer’d Kindness, tho’ I could not accept it with a safe and clear Conscience, which I valued above any Thing to be enjoy’d in this World. I said, I could add farther Reasons to those I had already urg’d; but I would not trouble them longer, fearing I had already been too tedious or offensive to some of them; which, if I had, I heartily begg’d their Pardon; assuring them once more, that if it was so, it was neither my Design nor Intent, but the Reverse.

“Hereupon they all said, They liked to hear us talk, and thought we were very well match’d: Adding, That Capt. Russel could seldom meet with a Man that could stand him: But, as for their Parts, they were pleas’d with our Discourse, and were very sure Loe and Russel were so too.

“Capt. Loe than said, He liked it very well; but told me, I had not return’d Capt. Russel an Answer to what he last said, which he thought deserv’d one.

“I answer’d, That since the Gentlemen were so good-natur’d, as not only to take in good Part what I had hitherto said, but also to give me free Liberty to pursue my Discourse, I should make Use of their Indulgence, and answer what Capt. Russel had said last to me, in as brief and inoffensive a Manner as I was capable of.

“Then turning to Russel, I said, Sir, Your Opinion of my Notion of the Right you have to any Ship or Goods you may take, is exactly true; and I think your Right cannot extend farther than your Power to maintain that Right; and therefore it must follow, you can transfer no other Right to any one than what you have your selves, which will render any Person who receiv’d them, as guilty for detaining them from the proper Owners, as you for the taking them.

“He said, Be it so; we will suppose (and seemed a little angry) for Argument Sake, we have taken a Ship, and are resolv’d to sink or burn her, unless you will accept of her: Now, pray, where is the Owner’s Property, when the Ship is sunk, or burned? I think the Impossibility of his having her again, cuts off his Property to all Intents and Purposes, and our Power was the same, notwithstanding our giving her to you, if we had thought fit to make use of it.

“I was loth to argue any farther, seeing him begin to be peevish; and knowing, by the Information afore given me by the three Men, that all his pretended Kindness and Arguments were only in order to detain me, without the Imputation of having broken their Articles; which he found the major Part of the Company very averse to; wherefore, to cut all short, I told him, I was very sensible of the Favours design’d me; and should always retain a grateful Sense of them: That I knew I was absolutely in their Power, and they might dispose of me as they pleas’d; but that having been hitherto treated so generously by them, I could not doubt of their future Goodness to me. And that if they would be pleas’d to give me my Sloop again, it was all I requested at their Hands; and I doubted not, but that, by the Blessing of God on my honest Endeavours, I should soon be able to retrieve my present Loss; at least, I said, I should have nothing to reproach myself with, whatever should befal me, as I should have, if I were to comply with the Favour they had so kindly intended for me.

“Upon which, Capt. Loe said, Gentlemen, the Master, I must needs say, has spoke nothing but what is very reasonable, and I think he ought to have his Sloop. What do you say Gentlemen?

“The greatest Part of them answered aloud, Ay, Ay, by G—, let the poor Man have his Sloop again, and go in God’s Name, and seek a Living in her for his Family. Ay, said some of them, and we ought to make something of a Gathering for the poor Man, since we have taken every Thing that he had on Board his Vessel. This put an End to the Dispute; and every Body talked according to their Inclinations, the Punch, Wine, and Tobacco being moving Commodities all this Time: And every one who had an Opportunity of speaking to me, wish’d me much Joy with, and success in, my newly obtain’d Sloop.

“Towards Night, Russel told Capt. Loe, that as the Company had agreed to give me the Sloop again, it was to be hoped they would discharge me, and let me go about my Business in a short Time; and therefore, with his Leave, he would take me on Board the Scooner with him, to treat me with a Sneaker of Punch before parting. Accordingly, I accompany’d him on Board his Vessel, tho’ I had rather stay’d with Loe, and he welcomed me there, and made abundance of Protestations of his Kindness and Respect to me; but still argued, that he thought I was very much overseen in not accepting what he had so kindly, and out of pure Respect, offer’d to me, and which, he said, would really have been the making of me. I told him, I thank’d him for his Favour and Good-will; but was very well satisfy’d with the Company’s Generosity in agreeing to give me the Sloop again, which, I said, was more satisfactory to me, than the richest Prize that they could take.

“Well, says he, I wish it may prove according to your Expectation. I thank’d him; so down we went into the Cabbin, and, with the Officers only, diverted ourselves in talking ’till Supper was laid on the Table.

“After Supper, a Bowl of Punch, and half a Dozen of Claret, being set on the Table, Capt. Russel took a Bumper, and drank Success to their Undertaking; which went round, I not daring to refuse it. Next Health was Prosperity to Trade, meaning their own Trade. The third Health was, The King of France: After which, Russel began the King of England’s Health; so they all drank round, some saying, The King of England’s Health, others only The aforesaid Health, ’till it came round to me; and Capt. Russel having empty’d two Bottles of Claret into the Bowl, as a Recruit, and there being no Liquor that I have a greater Aversion to, than red Wine in Punch, I heartily begg’d the Captain and the Company would excuse my drinking any more of that Bowl, and give me leave to pledge the Health in a Bumper of Claret.

“Hereupon Russel said, Damn you, you shall drink in your Turn a full Bumper of that Sort of Liquor that the Company does. Well, Gentlemen, said I, rather than have any Words about it, I will drink it, tho’ it is in a Manner Poyson to me; because I never drank any of this Liquor, to the best of my Remembrance, but it made me sick two or three Days at least after it. And d—n you, says Russel, if it be in a Manner, or out of a Manner, or really, rank Poyson, you shall drink as much, and as often, as any one here, unless you fall down dead, dead!

“So I took the Glass, which was one of your Hollands Glasses, made in the Form of a Beaker, without a Foot, holding about three Quarters of a Pint, and filling it to the Brim, said, Gentlemen, here is the aforesaid Health. What Health is that, said Russel? Why, says I, the same Health you all have drank, The King of England’s Health. Why, says Russel, who is King of England? I answer’d, In my Opinion, he that wears the Crown, is certainly King while he keeps it. Well, says he, and pray who is that? Why, says I, King George at present wears it. Hereupon he broke out in the most outrageous Fury, damning me, and calling me Rascally Son of a B—; and abusing his Majesty in such a virulent Manner, as is not fit to be repeated, asserting, with bitter Curses, that we had no King.

“I said, I admir’d that he would begin and drink a Health to a Person who was not in being. Upon which, he whipp’d one of his Pistols from his Sash, and I really believe would have shot me dead, if the Gunner of the Scooner had not snatch’d it out of his Hand.

“This rather more exasperated Russel, who continu’d swearing and cursing his Majesty in the most outrageous Terms, and asserting the Pretender to be the lawful King of England, &c. He added, That ’twas a Sin to suffer such a false traiterous Dog as I was to live; and with that whipp’d out another Pistol from his Sash, and cock’d it, and swore he would shoot me through the Head, and was sure he should do God and his Country good Service, by ridding the World of such a traiterous Villain. But the Master of the Scooner prevented him, by striking the Pistol out of his Hand.

“Whether it was with the Fall, or his Finger being on the Trigger, I cannot tell, but the Pistol went off without doing any Damage: At which the Master, and all present, blamed Russel for being so rash and hasty; and the Gunner said, I was not to blame; for that I drank the Health as it was first propos’d, and there being no Names mention’d, and King George being possess’d of the Crown, and establish’d by Authority of Parliament, he did not see but his Title was the best. But what have we to do, continued he, with the Rights of Kings or Princes? Our Business here, is to chuse a King for our own Commonwealth; to make such Laws as we think most conducive to the Ends we design; and to keep ourselves from being overcome, and subjected to the Penalty of those Laws which are made against us. He then intimated to Russel, That he must speak his Sentiments freely, and imputed his Quarrel with me, to his being hinder’d from breaking thro’ their Articles: Urging, that he would appear no better than an Infringer of their Laws, if the Matter were narrowly look’d into: And that it was impossible ever to have any Order or Rule observ’d, if their Statutes were once broken thro’. He put him in Mind of the Penalty, which was Death, to any one who should infringe their Laws; and urg’d, That if it were once admitted that a Man, thro’ Passion, or the like, should be excused breaking in upon them, there would be an End to their Society: And concluded with telling him, that it was an extraordinary Indulgence in the Company, not to remind him of the Penalty he had incurr’d.

“Russel, still continuing his Passion, answer’d, That if he had transgress’d, it was not for the Sake of his own private Interest, but for the general Good of the Company; and therefore did not fear, neither in Justice could he expect, any Severity from the Company for what he had done; and for that Reason, whatever he (the Gunner) or those of his Sentiments, thought of it, he was resolv’d, whatever came of it, to pursue his present Humour.

“Then says the Gunner to the rest, Well, Gentlemen, if you have a Mind to maintain those Laws made, establish’d, and sworn to by you all, as I think we are all obligated by the strongest Tyes of Reason and Self-Interest to do, I assure you, my Opinion is, that we ought to secure John Russel, so as to prevent his breaking our Laws and Constitutions, and thereby do ourselves, and him too, good Service: Ourselves, by not suffering such an Action of Cruelty in cold Blood, as he more than once attempted to commit, as you are Eye-witnesses of, and, I believe, most on Board have been Ear-witnesses to the Pistol’s going off; and all this for no other Reason in the World, but through a proud and ambitious Humour, conceiting he is the Man that is not to be contradicted, and that his Words, though tending to our Ruin, must yet be receiv’d as an Oracle, without any Opposition.

“At which they all said, It was a pity the Master should suffer, neither would they permit it; and speaking to Russel, they said, they would not allow him to be so barbarous: That they had always valued themselves upon this very Thing of being civil to their Prisoners, and not abusing their Persons: That, ’till now, he himself had been always the greatest Perswader to Clemency, and even to the forgiving Provocations, and permitting them to go from ’em with as little Loss as could be, after they had taken what they had Occasion for: But now, said they, you are quite the Reverse, to this poor Man, and for no other Reason, that we know of, but, as the Gunner said just now, because we would not yield a greater Power to you alone, then you with the whole Company have when conjoin’d; that is, that you at any Time, to gratify your own Humour, shall have Liberty, not only to dispense with our Laws, but to act against the Sentiments of the whole Company.

“Russel answer’d, That he never did oppose the Company before; neither could he believe any present could charge him with any Cruelty in cold Blood, ever since he belong’d to the Company; but that he had a Reason for what he did, or would have done, if he had not been prevented. Hereupon the Master interrupting him, said, Capt. Russel, we know of no Reason for your passionate Design, but what we have told you; and, as you have been told before, it reflects a Revenge against the Company; but not being able to effect that, you turn it on that poor Man the Master of the Sloop, and, as it were, in despite of the Company, because they have decreed him his Sloop again, that he may provide a Living for his Family, you would barbarously, nay brutishly, as well as to the Company contemptuously, murder that poor Man, who has given you no Occasion to induce you to such an Action that we know of; and if he has given you any sufficient Cause to be so offended at him, we promise you this Instant, to deliver him up to you, to suffer Death, or what other Punishment you think fit to inflict on him.

“Russel told them, That he had been in the Company almost from the first, and he challeng’d any one to charge him with Singularity, or Opposition to the Company, or of Cruelty to any one Prisoner before that Rascal, as he call’d me, and that therefore they might be assur’d, he should not have taken up such Resentments against me, if he had not a sufficient Reason to provoke him to it, which he did not think proper at that Time to divulge.

“Then, says the Gunner, neither do we think proper that you shall take any Man’s Life away in cold Blood, ’till you think fit to acquaint the Company with the Reasons for it; and I think it was your Place to satisfy the Company, before you took the Liberty to attempt the Life of any Man under the Company’s Protection, as I think all Prisoners are: And, to say the Truth, I do verily believe, you have no other Reasons to give than those hinted by the Master and me; and therefore, I think it but Reason, to use such Methods as may prevent your passionate Design, and secure the Prisoner ’till Morning, and then send him on Board the Commodore, who, with the Advice of the Majority, may order the Matter as he thinks best.

“This was consented to by all, and so Russel, having his Arms taken from him, was order’d not to offer the least Disturbance again, nor concern himself with or about me, ’till after I was on Board the Commodore, on Pain of the Crew’s Displeasure, and also of being prosecuted as a Mutineer; and the Gunner, Master, Boatswain, &c. bid me not be discourag’d; assuring me, that there should no Harm come to me while I was on Board of them; and that they would send me away now, but that there is, said they, an express Order among us, to receive no Boats on Board after eight at Night, or nine a-Clock at farthest; but they would put me on Board Capt. Loe in the Morning, where they were sure I should be protected and secur’d from the revengeful Hand of Capt. Russel; for they said, they were sure that Capt. Loe had a great Respect for me, and would be a Means to counter-ballance Russel; and they said they would sit up with me all Night for my greater Security: Which they did, smoaking and drinking and talking, every one according to his Inclination, and so we pass’d the Time away ’till Day.

“Russel went to sleep about two a-Clock in the Morning in his Cabbin; however, the Master, the Gunner, and five or six more, did not go to Bed all that Night, but would have had me gone to sleep, telling me, I need not fear, for they would take Care that Russel should not hurt me.

“About eight a-Clock in the Morning, I was carry’d on Board Capt. Loe, the Gunner and Steward going with me, who told him all that had pass’d; and acquainted him, that they still believ’d Russel to be so implacable against me, that he would murder me in cold Blood before I got clear of them, if he did not interpose to protect me from his Violence. Capt. Loe said, He very well knew, and he believ’d so did they all, what was the Reason that made Russel so inveterate and implacable to me: He added, That Russel did not do well; and that I had behav’d myself so inoffensively, that there could be no Reason to induce the most savage Monster to be such an irreconcilable Enemy to me; but that ’twas an easy Matter to dive into the Cause of it, to wit, his being thwarted by the Company in his Humour; and because they would not break thro’ the Articles which cemented them together, and which were sign’d and swore to by them all, as the standing Rule of their Duty, by which only they could decide and settle Controversies and Differences among themselves; the least Breach of which, would be a Precedent for the like Infractions, whenever Russel, or any other, thought fit to give Way either to Revenge or Ambition, and that then all their Counsels would be fluctuating; and Fancy, and not Reason, would be the Rule of their Conduct; and their Resolutions would be render’d more unconstant than the Weathercock. He added, That he hoped the Company would inviolably adhere to their establish’d Laws, which, he said, were very good; and were they not, yet, as they were made by the unanimous Consent of the whole Company, so they ought not to be alter’d without the same unanimous Consent; concluding, that, for his Part, he would rather chuse to be out of the Company than in it, if they did not resolve to be determin’d by their Articles. Hereupon they answer’d, That what he had said was very good, and they were resolv’d to adhere to his Advice.

“After this they drank a Dram, and then return’d with their Boat on Board the Scooner; and Capt. Loe told me, he was sorry for Capt. Russel’s Disgust against me, because he believ’d it would be a disadvantage to me; but, however, there was no Remedy but Patience; assuring me, That Russel should neither kill me, nor abuse my Person, and I should have my Sloop again, and be discharg’d in as short a while as possible, that I might be clear of Russel, who, he was afraid, would always continue my Foe.

“All the Officers and Men likewise spoke very friendly to me, and bid me not be daunted; so we pass’d the Time away in several Kinds of Discourse ’till Dinner; after which, Loe order’d a Bowl of Punch to be made, and said he wish’d I was well clear of them.

“About four a-Clock in the Afternoon Capt. Russel came on Board, as did also Francis Spriggs, who commanded the other Ship, and after a little while, says Russel to Capt. Loe, The Mate of the Sloop is willing to enter with us as a Volunteer.

“Loe made Answer, and said, How must we do in that Case? For then the Master of the Sloop will have no Body to help him, but one Boy; for, says he, the little Child is no Help at all.

“Russel said, He could not help that. But, said Loe, we must not take all the Hands from the poor Man, if we design to give him his Sloop again; adding, That he thought in Reason there could not be less than two Boys and the Mate.

“Z—ds, says Russel, his Mate is a lusty young brisk Man, and has been upon the Account before, and told me but even now (for, said he, I was on Board the Sloop but just before I came here, and Frank Spriggs was along with me, and heard him say), That he was fully resolv’d to go with us, and would not go any more in the Sloop, unless forced; and when he came out of Barbadoes, he said, his Design was to enter himself on Board the first Pyrate that he met with; And will you refuse such a Man, contrary to your Articles, which you all so much profess to follow; and which enjoin you by all Means, not repugnant to them, to encrease and fill your Company? Besides, continued he, he spoke to me the first Day, that he was resolv’d to enter with us.

“Loe reply’d, That to give the Man his Sloop, and no Hands with him to assist him, was but putting him to a lingering Death, and they had as good almost knock him on the Head, as do it.

“Russel answer’d, As to that, they might do as they pleas’d; what he spoke now was for the Good of the whole Company, and agreeable to the Articles, and he would fain see or hear that Man that should oppose him in it. He said, He was Quarter-Master of the whole Company, and, by the Authority of his Place, he would enter the Mate directly, and had a Pistol ready for the Man that should oppose him in it.

“Loe said, As for what was the Law and Custom among them (as what he now pleaded, was) he would neither oppose, nor argue against; but, if they thought fit to take the Man’s Mate from him, then they might let him have one of his own Men with him.

“Russel said, No; for all the Sloop’s Men were already enroll’d in their Books, and therefore none of them should go in her again. Gentlemen, continu’d he, you must consider I am now arguing, as well for the Good of the Company, as for the due Maintenance and Execution of the Laws and Articles; and as I am the proper Officer substituted and intrusted by this Company with Authority to execute the same, so (as I told you before) I have a Pistol and a Brace of Balls ready for any one, who dare oppose me herein; and turning to me, said, Master, the Company has decreed you your Sloop, and you shall have her; you shall have your two Boys, and that is all: You shall have neither Provisions, nor any Thing else, more than as she now is. And, I hear, there are some of the Company design to make a Gathering for you; but that also I forbid, by the Authority of my Place, because we are not certain but we may have Occasion ourselves for those very Things before we get more; and for that Reason I prohibit a Gathering; and I swear by all that is Great and Good, that if I know any Thing whatsoever carry’d, or left on Board the Sloop against my Order, or without my Knowledge, that very Instant I will set her on Fire, and you in her.

“Upon which I said, that since it was their Pleasure to order it thus, I begged that they would not put me on Board the Sloop in such a Condition; but rather begg’d, if they so pleas’d, to do what they would with the Sloop, and put me, and my two Boys, ashore on one of the Islands.

“Russel said, No; for they were to Leeward of all the Islands, and should hardly come near any of them this Season again.

“I said, I should rather be put ashore any where else, either on the Coast of Guinea, or on whatever Coast they came at first, than be put as a Victim on Board the Sloop; where I should have no Possibility of any Thing but perishing, except by an extraordinary Miracle.

“He told me, My Fate was already decreed by the Company, and he, by his Place, was to see all their Orders put in Execution; and he would accordingly see me safely put on Board the Sloop, in the exact Condition as he had but now mention’d.

“I was going to make him a Reply, but casting my Eye on Capt. Loe, he wink’d at me to be silent; and taking a Bumper, drank Success to their Proceedings. The Health went round, and Loe order’d the great Bowl to be fill’d with Punch, and Bottles of Wine to be set on the Table in the Cabbin, to which we all resorted, and spent the remaining Part of the Evening in Discourses on different Subjects: Only Frank Spriggs offer’d to perswade me to accept of what was first offer’d me, which Russel swore I should not now have, I having not once, but several Times already refus’d it. Capt. Loe not being then willing to have any more of that Kind of Discourse, broke it off by singing a Song, and enjoining every one present to do the same, except me, whom he said he would excuse ’till Times grew better with me: And thus they diverted themselves, and pass’d the Evening away ’till towards eight a-Clock, and then every one repair’d on Board their respective Ships; and, after they were gone, Loe and I, and two or three of his Confidents, smoak’d a Pipe, and drank a Bottle or two of Wine; in which Time he told me, He was very sorry that Jack Russel was so set against me. I said, So was I, and wonder’d what should be the Reason of it, having given him no Cause, unless by drinking that Health the preceding Night: I said, I had imputed to Liquor, the Fury he was then in, and was in Hopes, that after that had work’d off, his Resentments also would have cooled, and was not a little concern’d to find it otherwise. Loe said, The Health was not the Cause, but rather the Effect of his Anger, and a meer Pretence to cloak his Resentment for other Disappointments: Adding, That I did right to take his Hint given me by winking, to answer no more; For, says he, I knew that every Thing which you could speak to him, would be taken Edge-ways; and the more you said to excuse yourself, the more it would add Fuel to his Anger, which he turn’d against you who could not resist him, because he could not have his Will of us; but we will endeavour to draw him off by Degrees; and for that Reason will not discharge you, but I will keep you on Board with me, where he shall not hurt nor abuse you, except with his Tongue, which you must bear, ’till we see if we can alter his Temper, so as to deal with you a little more favourable than at present he designs.

“I thank’d him, and all of them present, for their Favours and Good-will, and it being near Midnight, we parted, and every one retired to his Rest, and I to my Hammock; and being pretty much fatigued the Night before, as well as the preceding Day, soon fell asleep; and about Day-dawning, I got up, and came upon Deck, and walking upon the Quarter Deck very solitary, one of the three Men, mention’d before, pass’d by me, and ask’d me how I did, and said he was very sorry for the Unkindness already shew’d me, and like to be shew’d; but it was what they expected, as they had before hinted to me, and that still there was like to be a tough Struggle about me: That Russel did design to be very barbarous to me, and that Loe, and a great Part of the Company, intended to oppose him in it; that there were a great many who were Russel’s Gang or Clan, and design’d to stand by him in it, and had threaten’d, that if there were much Disturbance about it, they would shoot me, and so put an End to the Controversy: That there were some, on the other Hand, that threaten’d hard if they did, to revenge my Death by some of theirs; so that it was likely to be an untoward Touch, and he wish’d it might not prove to my Disadvantage in the End; but would have me still to keep a good Heart, and trust in God, and hope for the best, and by no means to speak one Word, or concern myself either Way, but patiently wait the Issue, which he hoped would be better for me than some of them intended; and so heartily wishing me well, walk’d his Way.

“Now you must believe these Accounts were not a little shocking to me; but I had no Friend that I could really rely on, but God, to whom I made my Petitions, and whose Assistance I humbly besought, to extricate me, in his own good Time, out of these Difficulties and Snares which were laid for me on every Side, and, in the mean Time, patiently so to bear them, as not to murmur and repine at his fatherly Chastisements, nor, by their Extremity, through Desperation, wound my Conscience; but that in all Things I might, through the Guidance of the holy Spirit, be directed so as to submit myself entirely to his Will, who infinitely knew what was better for me than I knew myself.

“After some Time pass’d, Capt. Loe came upon Deck, who ask’d me how I had rested the preceding Night? I told him, Very well, considering my present Case; but, next under God, had grounded my Hopes upon him, to rid me of my present Fears, by dispatching me away as soon as possible he could with Conveniency. He told me, He would do every Thing in his Power to further my Desires, and hoped that what he had already done on my Account, would sufficiently convince me of his Desire to serve me; but that Things hitherto had fallen out very unluckily and cross, as I myself was able to judge by what was already pass’d.

“I told him, I had very good Reasons to return him my hearty Thanks, and own’d myself bound to him in the strictest Ties of Gratitude; and that if it ever should be in my Power to serve him, I would not content myself with bare Acknowledgments of his Favour.

“He said, His Will was at present more extensive than his Power; but that he still hoped to prevail with Russel, and those who were of his Side, to be more compassionate to me before I parted with them, than at present they seem’d to intend, and as soon as he had brought them to a better Temper, he then would procure my Discharge; but if Russel still continu’d inexorable, which he should be very sorry for, then you must endeavour, says he, to keep up a good Heart, and patiently wait ’till Providence brings you out of your present Calamities, which I hope he will.

“I thank’d him, and told him, I would endeavour to follow his Advice, tho’, I said, ’twas with some Impatience that I waited to have my Doom determin’d in a Discharge from them. He bid me be easy, it should be shortly.

“By this Time there were several join’d with us, so we broke off that Discourse, and fell into other Talk.

“About two or three a-Clock in the Afternoon, Capt. Russel, Capt. Spriggs, and some of their Officers, came on Board, and held a Consultation, which I was not allow’d to be a Hearer of; but understood afterwards, ’twas chiefly about their own Affairs, in Relation to the further Prosecution of their intended Voyage; and by the little mention that was made of me, it appear’d, that Russel continu’d still inflexible, bitterly swearing, that he would, if he had a thousand Lives, lose them all, rather than miscarry in this his fix’d Resolution.

“In this difficult Situation I stood, not daring to speak freely for fear of offending, nor be silent, lest I should be thought contemptuous; not knowing how to avoid their Resentments, and every Resentment menacing, and often bringing Death. And thus I tediously, as well as dangerously, pass’d my Time among them, until it pleas’d God to put it into their Hearts to discharge me; tho’, if seriously weigh’d, this my Discharge seem’d like sentencing me to a lingering and miserable Death; yet I must needs confess, considering the whole Matter, that I was in a Manner miraculously befriended and supported, even in spite of Malice, Rage, and Revenge, for which I shall always pay my humble Acknowledgements to the Divine Providence.

“After several Efforts made by Capt. Loe, and others, and abundance of Arguments used to bring Russel to better Temper relating to me; and finding it all to no Purpose, and that some of his Clan had bound themselves by Oath to stand by him, even to my Destruction, if the Dispute continu’d much longer; Capt. Loe, and Capt. Spriggs, and others, who were my Friends, resolv’d on sending me away as soon as possible; and for that Purpose Loe, the 10th Day after I was taken, made a Signal for a general Consultation on Board of him; and as soon as the Officers and leading Men of the other two Ships, were assembled, he made a Speech to them, to let them know the Reason of his calling them to a Consultation, telling them, That he thought it was Time to discharge me, as they had before agreed, as also to prosecute their intended Voyage, they having lain a long Time driving; and that, altogether out of their Way, by Reason they could not expect, either here, or in this Drift, to meet with any Ships.

“To this they all agreeing, Capt. Loe told them, He thought it would be best to discharge me first, for several Reasons, among which, my being cumbersome to them, as well as unserviceable, they being forc’d to sail the Sloop themselves; besides, he said it was not proper that I should be made acquainted with the Design of their Voyage.

“They ask’d, Why he did not turn me away? Saying, They did not know for what Reason I had been kept so long, the Company having settled that Matter so long since.

“Capt. Loe said, Gentlemen, you all know what Arguments we have had already about this Matter, and how Capt. Russel, and some more, were angry with the Master of the Sloop, and, I verily believe, without any Cause by him given to any of you designedly; and therefore, I hope you have consider’d better of it since, and laid aside your Resentments against the poor Man; neither, said he, let us do any Thing now in Passion, for I do not design (nor would I, if I could) to inforce any of you to comply to any Thing against your Will; nor would I have you think, Gentlemen, that I shall ever shew so much Respect to any Prisoner, as, on his Account, to cause a Difference or Wrangling among our selves; but yet, Gentlemen, give me Leave to say, That tho’ we are Pirates, yet we are Men, and tho’ we are deem’d by some People dishonest, yet let us not wholly divest ourselves of Humanity, and make ourselves more Savage than Brutes. If we send this poor Man away from us, without Provisions or Hands to assist him, Pray what greater Cruelty can there be? I think the more lingering any Death is made, the more barbarous ’tis accounted by all Men; and therefore, Gentlemen, I leave it to your own Consideration.

“To this, Russel made answer, That he, in the Company’s Name, had made the Master of the Sloop very good and generous Offers, in the Hearing of all the Company; but that I had, in his Opinion, after a very slighting Manner, refus’d them: That ’twas my Choice to be sent thus on Board the Sloop, rather than the Compulsion of the Company; and that, notwithstanding he told me what I must trust to by insisting on the Sloop, and how favourable they were design’d to be to me, if I would have but a little Patience ’till they could provide for me, yet that I had refus’d their Favours, notwithstanding the Pains he took to perswade me; adding an egregious Falshood, (but I durst not tell him so) That I had petition’d and begg’d of the Company, rather to be put in the Sloop in the Condition he now propos’d for me, and that therefore, according to my Desire, it should be so; and he hoped it could never be reckon’d Cruelty in them to give a Person his free Choice. And, Gentlemen, says he, we have had a great many more Words about this Matter already, than ever we had in the like Case before; but I hope you all have so much Value and Respect for one another, and for the general Peace, as that we shall have no more Debate on this Head, but determine at once the Time when he is to be discharg’d, the Manner of it being already settled by the major Part, and I as your Quarter-master, as my Office requires, will see it executed, and, perhaps, in a more favourable Manner than at first I design’d, or he really deserves at mine or your Hands either; but let that rest there.

“Then Capt. Loe said, Mr. Russel hath spoke to you, Gentlemen, his Sentiments, which, in the main, are reasonable and true, and I am glad he is reconcil’d to the Master of the Sloop before their parting; and, I cannot say, but I always believ’d Jack Russel to be a Man of so much Sense, as well as Good-nature, that he would scorn to take Revenge on one whose Condition render’d him uncapable of helping himself. And I think, Gentlemen, we may discharge him as soon as you please, and this Afternoon, if you are all agreed to it. They all said Ay. Upon which Russel told them, it should be done that Afternoon; telling Loe, That after Dinner he would take me on Board the Scooner with him, and, from thence, send me on Board the Sloop, and see what could be done for me.

“Some of Loe’s Company said, They would look out some Things, and give me along with me when I was going away; but Russel told them, they should not, for he would toss them all into Davy Jones’s Locker if they did; for I was the Scooner’s Prize, and she had all my Cargo and Plunder on Board of her, and therefore what was given to me should be given to me out of her: And turning to me said, Well, Master, I will this Evening put you on Board your own Sloop, and will be a better Friend to you, perhaps, than them that pretended a great deal more; but I am above being led by Passion, &c. They all din’d on Board of Loe, who, after Dinner, order’d a Bowl of Punch to be made in the great Silver Bowl, and set a Dozen of Claret on the Table, and that they said was for me to take my Leave of them, and part Sailor-like. I thank’d them; so they drank round to my good Success, and then to their own fortunate Proceedings and good Success; and Loe told me, He wish’d me very well, and hoped to meet with me again, at some Time when they had a good Prize of rich Goods, and he would not fail to make me a Retaliation with good Advantage for my present Loss. And they all present said, I need not fear meeting with a Friend, whenever I met with them again.

“About duskish, they began to prepare to go on Board their Ships, and I took my Leave of Capt. Loe, and all his Ship’s Company, and in particular of the three Men, who, I believe, were my hearty Friends, and return’d them all Thanks for their Kindness, as well as good Humour, shew’d to me since my first coming on Board of them. I also took my Leave of Capt. Spriggs, and those of his Company who were present, wish’d me well, but not one of them, I believe, dar’d to give me any Lumber with me, nor durst I have accepted of it had they offer’d it, for Fear of angering my but newly and seemingly reconcil’d Enemy, who, in all Likelihood, would have taken from me whatever they would have given me: And for that Reason I believe it was, that none of them offer’d to give me a Farthing, notwithstanding all their Professions of Kindness to me; tho’ this Generosity is very usual with them, to People that they profess much less Favour for, than they did to me.

“Russel being ready, I was order’d to go in his Boat, which I did; and, as soon as we were come on Board the Scooner, he order’d a Supper to be got ready, and, in the mean Time, there was a Bowl of Punch made, and some Wine set on the Table. Russel invited me down into the Cabbin, as also all his Officers, and we drank and smoak’d ’till Supper was brought, and then he told me I was very welcome, and bid me eat and drink heartily; For, he said, I had as tedious a Voyage to go through, as Elijah’s forty Days Journey was to Mount Horeb, and, as far as he knew, without a Miracle, it must only be by the Strength of what I eat now; for I should have neither Eatables nor Drinkables with me in the Sloop.

“I told him, I hoped not so: He rapt out a great Oath, That I should find it certainly true. I told him, That rather than be put on Board the Sloop, in that Manner, where there was no Possibility to escape perishing, without a Miracle, I would submit to tarry on Board, ’till an Opportunity offer’d to put me ashore where they pleas’d; or would yield to any Thing else they should think fit to do with me, excepting to enter into their Service.

“He said, It was once in my Power to have been my own Friend; but my slighting their proffer’d Favours, and my own chusing what I now must certainly accept, had render’d me uncapable of any other Choice; and that therefore all Apologies were but in vain; and he thought he shew’d himself more my Friend than I could well expect, or than I had deserv’d at his Hands, having caused him to have a great deal of Difference with the Company more than ever he had in his Life before, or ever should have again, he hoped.

“I told him, I was very sorry that I was so unfortunate as to be the unhappy Occasion of it; but could from my Heart aver, that it was not only undesign’d, but also sorely against my Inclinations; and begg’d of him, and all the Gentlemen then present, to consider me as an Object rather of their Pity, than of their Revenge.

“He told me, All my Arguments and Perswasions now were in vain, it being too late: I had not only refus’d their Commiseration when I was offer’d it, but ungratefully despis’d it: Therefore, says he, as I told you before, it’s in vain for you to plead any more: Your Lot is cast, and you have nothing now to do, but to go through with your Chance as well as you can, and fill your Belly with good Victuals and good Drink, to strengthen you to hold it as long as you can: It may be, and is very probable to be, the last Meal that ever you may eat in this World: However, perhaps, such a Conscientious Man as you would fain seem, or it may be are, may have a supernatural, or, at least, a natural Means wrought by a supernatural Power, in a miraculous Manner, to deliver you. However, I cannot say but I pity the two Boys, and have a great Mind to take them on Board, and let the miraculous Deliverance be wrought on you alone.

“The Master and Gunner said, They heard the Boys say, they were willing to take their Chance with their Master, let it be what it would. Nay, then, says Russel, it’s fit they should. I suppose their Master has made them as religious and as conscientious as himself. However, Master, says Russel, (speaking to me) I would have you eat and drink heartily, and talk no more about changing your allotted Chance; because, as I told you before, it is all in vain; besides, it may be a Means of Provocation to serve you worse.

“Gentlemen, says I, I have done: I will say no more; you can do no more than God is pleas’d to permit you; and I own, for that Reason, I ought to take it patiently.

“Well, well, says Russel, if it be done by God’s Permission, you need not fear that he will permit any Thing hurtful to befall so good a Man as you are.

“About ten a-Clock at Night, he order’d to call the Sloop’s Boat, which was brought by some of the Pirates of his own Clan, who were station’d on Board of her, and ask’d them, If they had done as he had order’d them, viz. to clear the Sloop of every Thing? And they said Yes, raping out a great Oath or two, adding, She had nothing on Board except Ballast and Water. Z—ds, said Russel, did not I bid you have all the Casks that had Water in them on Board? So we did, said they; but the Water that we spoke of was Salt-water, leak’d in by the Vessel, and is now above the Ballast; for we have not pump’d her we do not know when.

“Said Russel, Have you brought away the Sails I told you of? They said, All but the Mainsail that was bent, for the other old Mainsail that he had order’d to be left, was good for nothing but to cut up for Parceling, and hardly for that, it was so rotten; besides, it was so torn, that it could not be brought too, and was past mending, and for that Reason they let it lie, and would not unbend the other Mainsail.

“Z—ds, says Russel, we must have it, for I want it to make us a Mainsail. D—n it, said the Men, then you must turn the Man adrift in the Sloop without a Mainsail.

“Pish, said Russel, the same miraculous Power that is to bring him Provisions, can also bring him a Sail.

“What a Devil, is he a Conjurer? said one of them.

“No, no, says Russel, but he expects Miracles to be wrought for him, or he never would have chosen what he hath.

“Nay, nay, said they, if he be such a one, he will do well enough; but I doubt, says one of them, he will fall short of his Expectation; for if he be such a mighty Conjurer, how the Devil was it that he did not conjure himself clear of us?

“Pish, said another, it may be his conjuring Books were shut up. Ay, but, said another, now we have hove all his Conjuration Books over Board, I doubt he will be hard put to it to find them again.

“Come, come, says the Gunner, Gentlemen, the poor Man is like to go through Hardship enough, and very probably may perish; yet it is not impossible but he may meet with some Ship, or other timely Succour, to prevent his perishing, and I heartily wish he may; but however, you ought not to add Affliction to the Afflicted; You have sentenc’d him to a very dangerous Chance, which I think is sufficient to stop your Mouths from making a Droll and Game of him. I would have you consider, added he, if any of you were at Tyburn, or any other Place to be executed, as many better and stouter Men than some of you, have been, and the Spectators, or Jack Catch should make a Droll and May-game of you, you would think them a very hard-hearted, as well as an inconsiderate Sort of People: And pray, Gentlemen, consider the Sentence which you are now going to execute on this poor Man, will be as bad, or rather worse, than one of our Cases would be there; because, unless Providence stand his Friend in an extraordinary Manner, his Death must as certainly ensue or be the Consequence of this your Sentence, as it would there be to any of us by the Sentence of a Judge, and so much the more miserable, by how much it is more lingering.

“Damn it, said Russel, we have had enough, and too much of this already.

“Ay, said the Gunner, and take Care, Russel, you have not this to answer for one Day, when perhaps you will then, but too late, wish you had never done it. But you have got the Company’s Assent in this, I cannot tell how, and therefore I shall say no more, only that I, as I believe most of the Company, came here to get Money, but not to kill, except in Fight, and not in cold Blood, or for private Revenge. And I tell you, John Russel, if ever such Cases as these be any more practis’d, my Endeavour shall be to leave this Company as soon as I possibly can.

“To which Russel said nothing in Answer; but bid the Men that came on Board in the Boat, to leave the Sloop’s Boat on Board the Scooner, and take the Scooner’s Boat with them on Board the Sloop; and, as soon as they saw the Lights upon Deck on Board the Scooner, to come away from the Sloop with the Scooner’s Boat, and bring the Master of the Sloop’s biggest Boy with them; and to take their Hands out of the Sloop’s Boat, and put the Master’s Boy on Board of the Sloop’s Boat with his Master, and let them go on Board themselves with their Boat, and to be sure to bring the Sloop’s Mainsail with them, and also the Mate of the Sloop. All which they said they would do; so away they went; and then Russel told me, He would give me something with me to remember him; which was an old Musket, and a Cartridge of Powder, but for what Reason he made me that Present, I cannot tell; and then order’d the Candles to be lighted in the Lanthorns and carry’d upon Deck, and order’d two Hands to step into the Sloop’s Boat to carry me away, and to execute his former Orders; and then shaking Hands with me, he wish’d me a good Voyage. I told him I hoped I should. The Gunner, Master, and several of the Crew, shook Hands with me also, and heartily wish’d me Success, and hoped I should meet with a speedy and safe Deliverance. I thank’d them for their good Wishes; and told them I was now forc’d into a Necessity of going through it, whether I would or not; but thank’d God I was very easy at present, not doubting in God’s Mercy to me, tho’ I was not deserving of it: And that if I was permitted to perish, I knew the worst; and doubted not but he would graciously pardon my Sins, and receive me to his Everlasting Rest; and, in this Respect, what they had intended for my Misfortune, would be the Beginning of my Happiness; and that in the mean Time, I had nothing to do but to resign myself to his blessed Will and Protection, and bear my Lot with Patience. And so bidding them farewell, I went over the Side into the Boat, which was directly put off; and about half Way between the Scooner and Sloop, we met the Scooner’s Boat, and, according to their Orders from Russel, they put my Boy on Board of me, and so put away again to get on Board their own Vessel.

“After their Boat put away from us, I thought I heard the Voice of my Mate, but was not certain, because he spoke so low, his Conscience checking him, I suppose, for his leaving me so basely. I call’d to him, and said Arthur, what are you going to leave me? He answer’d, Ay. What, said I, do you do it voluntary, or are you forc’d? He answer’d faintly, I am forc’d, I think. I said, It was very well. He call’d to me again, and said, He would desire me to write to his Brother, and give him an Account where he was, if ever I should have an Opportunity. I told him, I did not know where his Brother liv’d. He called and said, He liv’d in Carlingford. I told him, I did not know where that was. He said, It was in Ireland. Why, said I, you told me in Barbadoes that you was a Scotchman, and that all your Friends liv’d in Scotland. But he made me no further Answer; but away they row’d towards their Vessel, and I towards the Sloop, and it being a very dark, as well as a close Night, it was as much as ever I could do to see her; this being the last Time that I spoke to, or saw any of them, nor do I ever more desire to see them, except at some Place of Execution.”