All this we avouch to be Truth, and have no other End in publishing it, but to testify our Thankfulness to God for his Great Deliverance, and to give others Warning not to trust their Lives or Estates in the Hands of so wicked and brutish a Man.
For the Truth of what we have deliver'd, we refer to the Affidavits subjoined, which we made concerning this Matter both in New England, and since our Arrival at London.
An Account of our intended Voyage, and some Accidents that happen'd therein from the River of Thames to Ireland, in the Nottingham-Galley, John Dean Master.
August the 7th, 1710. we sail'd from the Nore in company with her Majesty's Ship Sheerness, she then being appointed a Convoy for the North Britain Fleet, which we parted from off of Whitby, and made the best of our Way.
The 21st ditto we saw two Sail, and that they gave chace to us, they being to the Leeward of us about Three Leagues. It being then the Master's Watch on the Deck, he called the Mate, and told him, That he saw Two Privateers. As soon as the Mate came on the Deck, he desired the Master to run in Shore to the Windward of the Island of Arran, we then being about Two Leagues to the Windward of it. But the said Master would have gone in to Leeward, which we could not have done without speaking with the aforesaid Ships; and he proposed it several times; but the Mate nor none of the Ship's Company would consent to it, but told him, That if he did, we could not possibly escape the Enemy. Charles Whitworth then said in the hearing of the Boatswain and some others of the Ship's Company, That he had rather be taken than not, for he had Two Hundred Pounds Insured; he having an Eighth Part of the Ship, as he said.
The Master the next Day would have gone ashore and left the Ship, and put a Chest and several other things in the Boat. The Mate told him, That he would not consent to any such Thing, for he then saw no Danger of being Taken, and told the said Master, That it was early in the Morning, and but Seven Leagues from our Port, and a fair Wind to run along the Shore. The said Master was then heard to say by the Boatswain and several of the Ship's Company, That if he thought the Insurance would be paid, he would immediately run her ashore. So that we all plainly saw that he was willing to lose the said Ship. The Mate told him, That if he would, by God's Assistance he might fetch his Port before Night, if he would make Sail; but he had a Design to give the Ship away, he might. The said Master found the Mate was not willing to what he proposed, and that he could not obtain his Desire, he made Sail, and about Six or Seven in the Evening we arrived at our desired Port Killybags, where we took in 30 Tons of Butter and 300 and odd Cheeses.
September 25, 1710. we sail'd from this Port, bound for Boston in New England.