The Sloop had nothing more to do, and therefore set Sail, and reaching Providence, delivered the Pyrates all Prisoners into the Fort: A Court of Admiralty was immediately called, and they were all tried, and ten received Sentence of Death; the other six were acquitted, it appearing that they were forced. The following nine were executed in the Manner described in the first Volume, John Augur, William Cunningham, Dennis Macarty, William Lewis, Thomas Morris, George Bendal, William Morris, George Bendal, William Ling, and George Rogers. George Rounsavil was reprieved after he had been tied up, and just going to be cast off, and was brought down to see the Execution of the rest.
But we cannot quit this Story without taking Notice of the Fate of this George Rounsavil. He work’d for some Time ashore for his living, but afterwards ingaged himself with Captain Burghess, a pardoned Pyrate, who had received a Commission to go a privateering. It happened they were driven upon the Rocks to the Southward of Green Key Island, and there they were beat to pieces; this Rounsavil, with five others, upon the first Shock, stept into the Canoe, and were going off, when Burghess standing upon the Poop of his Vessel, call’d out to him, saying, Will you go away and leave me to perish in this Manner. Rounsavil begg’d his Companions to put back, and take him in; but they answered, that the rest would be as willing to save themselves as he, and of Consequence, so many would crowd into the Canoe as would sink it, wherefore they would not venture it; upon which he jump’d into the Water, and swam to the Vessel, and there perished with his Friend since he could not save him.
Of Captain TEACH.
We shall add here a few Particulars (not mentioned in our first Volume) of the famous Blackbeard, relating to his taking the South Carolina Ships, and insulting that Colony. This was at the Time that the Pyrates had obtained such an Acquisition of Strength, that they were in no Concern about preserving themselves from the Justice of Laws, but of advancing their Power, and maintaining their Sovereignty, not over the Seas only, but to stretch their Dominions to the Plantations themselves, and the Governors thereof, insomuch that when their Prisoners came aboard their Captors Ships, the Pyrates freely own’d their Acquaintance with them, and never endeavour’d to conceal their Names, or Habitations, as if they had been Inhabitants of a legal Commonwealth, and were resolved to treat with all the World on the Foot of a free State; and all judicial Acts went in the Name of Teach, under the Title of Commodore.
All the Carolina Prisoners were lodg’d aboard the Commodore’s Ship, after being strictly examin’d concerning the Lading of their Vessels, and the Number and Condition of other Traders in the Harbour; when they thought they would sail, and whither bound: And the Enquiry was so solemnly carried on, that the Pyrates swore, that it should be Death for that Man that told a Lye, or otherwise shifted or evaded in his Answers. At the same Time all their Papers were perused with the same Diligence as though it had been at the Secretary’s Office here in England. When this Business was gone through, Word was given, that all the Prisoners should be immediately turn’d aboard their own Ship, out of which they had already taken their Provisions and Stores. This was done with that Hurry and Precipitation, that it struck a great Terror in the unfortunate People, verily believing they were then going to their Destruction; and what seem’d to confirm them in this Notion was, that no Regard was had to the Qualities of the Prisoners, but Merchants, Gentlemen of Rank, and even a Child of Mr. Wragg’s, were thrust aboard in a tumultuous and confus’d Manner, and lock’d all under the Hatches, where not so much as one Pyrate stay’d amongst them.
In this melancholly Situation were these innocent People left, bewailing their Condition for several Hours, expecting every Moment that pass’d either that a Match would be laid to a Train to blow them up, or that the Ship was to be set on Fire, or sunk; no Body could tell which, but every one supposed they were, one Way or other, destin’d for a Sacrifice to their brutal Humours.
But, at length, a Gleam of Light shot in upon them, that recover’d their drooping Souls; the Hatches were unlaid, and they were immediately order’d back on board the Commodore: They began then to think the Pyrates had changed their savage Resolution; and that God had inspired them with Sentiments less shocking to Nature and Humanity, and they went aboard, as it were, with new Life. The Chief of them were brought before Blackbeard, the Pyrates General, who acquainted them with the Occasion of that extraordinary Procedure; and that they were only put out of the Way while a general Council was held, at which Time they suffer’d no Prisoner to be present. He told them, the Company was in want of Medicines, and must be supply’d from the Province; that their first Surgeon had drawn up a Catalogue, which he would send to the Governor and Council, by two of his own Officers, for whose safe Return, as well as for the Chest it self, they had come to a Resolution of keeping all the Prisoners as Hostages, who would all be put to Death, if such their Demands were not comply’d with punctually.