He then shipp’d himself Mate on board the Hannah, afterwards called the Neptune, and went to Scotland to take in her Cargo, the Owner being of that Nation; but before she got thither he the Owner broke, and the Ship was stopp’d, and lay 18 Months before she was dispos’d of: But being set to Sale, and six Scotch Gentlemen buying her, the old Officers were continued, and she proceeded on her first designed Voyage to Madagascar, in which the Captain and Burgess quarrelling, was the Loss of the Ship; for the latter, who was acquainted with the Pyrates, when they arrived at Madagascar, spirited them up to surprize her: The Manner how, being already set down in Halsey’s Life, I need not repeat.
I shall only take Notice, that Captain Miller being decoy’d ashore, under Pretence of being shew’d some Trees, fit for Masting, Halsey invited him to a Surloin of Beef, and a Bowl of Arrack Punch; he accepted the Invitation, with about 20 of the Pyrates. One Emmy, who had been a Waterman on the Thames, did not come to Table, but sat by, muffled up in a great Coat, pretending he was attack’d by the Ague, tho’ he had put it on to conceal his Pistols only. After Dinner, when Halsey went out, as for something to entertain his Guests, (Miller and his Supercargo,) Emmy clapp’d a Pistol to the Captain’s Breast, and told him, he was his Prisoner; at the same Instant, two other Pyrates enter’d the Room, with each a Blunderbuss in his Hand, and told the Captain and his Supercargoe, that no Harm should come to either, if they did not bring it upon themselves by an useless Resistance. While this past within Doors, the Wood being lined with Pyrates, all Miller’s Men, whom he had brought ashore to fell Timber, were secur’d, but none hurt, and all civilly treated. When they had afterwards got Possession of the Ship, in the Manner mention’d before, they set all their Prisoners at Liberty.
Miller, with eleven of his Men, was sent off, as is said in Halsey’s Life: The Company chose Burgess Quarter-Master, and shar’d the Booty they had made out of the Scotch Ship, and the Greyhound.
Soon after happen’d Halsey’s Death, who left Burgess Executor in Trust for his Widow and Children, with a considerable Legacy for himself, and the other Pyrates grumbling at a new Comer’s being preferr’d to all of them, took from Burgess 3,000 l. of Halsey’s Money, and 1200 l. of his own, which was his Share of the two Prizes. Tho’ he had been treated in this Manner, they were idle enough to give him the Command of the Scots Ship, and order’d him to fit her out with all Expedition, and to take on board some Men and Goods left in the Brigantine: He set to work on the Ship, with full Design to run away with her; but some Pyrates, who were in another Part of the Island, being informed of these Proceedings, thought it not prudent to trust him, so he left the Ship, and getting among his old Comrades, by their Interposition, had all his Money return’d.
After this he lived five Months on the Island of St. Mary’s, where his House was, by Accident, burnt down, out of which he saved nothing but his Money; he then went on board David Williams, when he miss’d the Island of Mascarenas, and returned to Methelage, where he staid with the King, and was one of the Men among whom he divided William’s Effects.
From Methelage he went with a Parcel of Samsams to Augustine, with which he bought fifty Slaves, whom he sold to the Arabians. In his Return to Methelage, he met Captain North in a Sloop, with thirty of Miller’s Men on board; these Men propos’d the taking Burgess, who had, they said, betrayed, ruined, and banished them their Country, by forcing them to turn Pyrates; but North would not consent: Upon which, they confined him, took North and stripp’d him of all the Money, and then releasing their Captain, gave him 300 l. as his Share, which he returned to Burgess on his Arrival at Methelage.
Burgess lived here two or three Years, till he was carried off by some Dutchmen; they belonged to an East-India Man, and were taken by two French Ships, which being bound for Mocha, and scarce of Provisions, came into Methelage to victual, where they set 80 of their Prisoners ashore. When they parted from this Port they sail’d for Johanna, where they left the Dutch Officers, who built a Ship, and came back for their Men. Burgess being of great Use to them, they took him on board, and steer’d for a Port, where some Dutch, taken in another Ship, were maroon’d; but they were wreck’d at Youngoul, where Burgess continued eighteen Months. After this Time was expir’d, he was desirous of leaving the Place, and addressing himself to the King, who was Uncle to the King of Methelage, he requested his black Majesty to send him back to that Port, which he readily complied with, where Burgess continued almost five Years, afflicted with Sickness, in which he lost one Eye. While he was here, the Drake Pink, of London, came in for Slaves, he took Burgess, with Design to carry him home; but Captain Harvey in the Henry, which belong’d to the same Owners, arriving, and being a Stranger to the Trade, at the Request of Captain Maggot, Commander of the Drake, and on Promise of a Ship when in the West Indies, he enter’d as third Mate, and continued with him. Captain Harvey carrying it pretty high, and disagreeing with the King, lay here 9 Months before he could slave. Burgess was sent up to tell the King he had not fulfill’d his Agreement with Captain Harvey; the King resented the being reproach’d by a Man whom he had entertained so many Years, and reviled him; he was, however, carried to Dinner with some of the principal Blacks, and drank very plentifully with them of Honey Toke, in which it is supposed he was poison’d, for he fell ill and died soon after, leaving what he had to the Care of the chief Mate, for the Use of his Wife and Children.
