The Crew were not, however, satisfied, and they made the same Offer to White, but by North’s Industry, they were, at last, prevail’d on to continue their old Commander; and as North and his Companions had expended their Money in the settling their Plantations, and wanted Cloaths, the former, therefore, accepted of the Quarter-Master’s Post under Halsey, and the others went in the Capacity of private Gentlemen Adventurers, I mean plain foremast Men, as may be gathered in the Life of that Pyrate, to which I refer for an Account of the Expedition they made in the Red Seas, beginning at Page 113. Captain Halsey on board a Prize left North to command the Brigantine they set out in.
The two Commanders were separated by a Storm, but both made for Madagascar; Halsey got to Ambonavoula, but North fell in with Maratan, where, finding the Brigantine was very much worm eaten, and made a great Deal of Water, with one Consent they took ashore all their Goods, and laid up their Vessel.
They were all very well received; the King being then at War with his Brother, North prevail’d on his Majesty’s Sister to pass her solitary Hours with him; at the King’s Return, having defeated his Brother, he was very much incens’d against North, for being so free with the Royal Family, and resolved to fine him 200 Sequins for the Affront done to his illustrious House; but North having some Inkling of his Design, pacified him, by making a Present of one hundred.
The Pyrates continued here a whole Year, when being desirous to go to Ambonavoula, they ask’d the King’s Assistance to build a Boat, and he for 1000 Dollars, set Negroes to work, under the Directions of Captain North, and a Vessel of 15 Tons was set up and launch’d with great Dispatch.
In this Boat they went to a River, called Manangaro, thirty Leagues to the Northward of Maratan: Here some of their Comrades came to them in a Boat belonging to the Scotch Ship Neptune, and help’d to transport their Goods to Ambonavoula, where he had before settled, and had a Woman and three Children.
He had not been long return’d before his neighbouring Natives reported, that the Timouses, who had followed him from the Southward, had a Design to rebel against, and murder him and the other Whites, which giving too easy Credit to, he made War upon, and drove these poor People out of the Country.
Some Time after he built a Sloop, and went to Antonguil, where he purchas’d 90 Slaves, and took in the Scots Supercargo, Mr. George Crookshank, with a Design to carry him to Mascarenas; but all his Comrades were against it, saying, when he got to Europe he would prove their Destruction. North answered, nothing could be more cruel, after they had taken the greater Part of what the poor Gentleman had, than to keep him from his Country, Family, and Friends; for his Part were he his Prisoner, he should not ask their Consents in doing an Act of Humanity, and the only one they were able towards making him some Reparation, since they could not return his Goods, which were parcel’d out into so many Shares.
On North’s saying thus much, they put the Affair in Question to the Vote, and there being many who had Obligations to North, and whom he influenced in Favour of the Supercargo, 48 out of 54 voted for the discharging him. North having gained this Point, the Pyrates ask’d if he also designed to take with him one J. B. a great Favourite of his, who had been Midship Man on board the Neptune (a young Scotch Man, who was a good Artist, a thorough Seaman, and very capable of taking on him the Command in any Voyage) he answered there was a Necessity of taking him, since he should want his Assistance in the Voyage; as he depended on his Knowledge, his Companions said J. B. would certainly give him the Slip, which would be a Loss to them all, as he was an Artist, and a clean hail young Fellow, and therefore his being detained was necessary to their common Good. To this North answered, his own Security would oblige his taking Care that he should not get from him, since no other on board was capable to find the Way back to Ambonavoula.
He went to Mascarenas, where the Supercargo and his Negroe were put on Shore with all the Money he had, which was about 1600 Dollars; for when the Pyrates made Prize of the Neptune, in the Manner already said, they took none of the Money, they themselves had before paid for Liquors, &c. either from the Captain, Supercargo, or any other on board; for that, they look’d upon it a base, as well as dishonest Action, but for the Ship and remaining Part of the Cargo, they had a fair Title to, viz. they wanted both. It is true, they made the Merchants of the Greyhound refund what Money they had taken; but before the Reader taxes them with Injustice, and acting against the above Maxim, let him consider Circumstances, and call to Mind the whole Story.
They did not take that Ship, on the contrary, they sent her away well victualled, and provided with Necessaries for her Voyage; and, I hope, it will be allow’d, they had a lawful Claim to her, as she belong’d to an Enemy, and came into a Port of theirs, without a Pass: Again, they did not rob these Merchants of the Money they had before laid out with them, but took it in Payment for the Liquors they had put on board the Greyhound, out of the Neptune, which the Merchants themselves, if they had any Honesty, could not expect for nothing: But let us suppose they had taken this Money by Force, and not traded for it on the fair Foot, as its evident they did; yet, was it no more than an Act of Justice, such as might reasonably be expected from the Probity of these Gentlemen, who never suffer an ill Action to go unpunished: And no Body can justify the Proceedings of those Merchants who advised the seizing the Scots Ship. But to return.