‘For God Sake, good Sir, let the Oaths of three Christian Men weigh something with you, who are ready to depose, when you please to allow them the Liberty, the Compulsions I lay under in committing those Acts, for which I am doom’d to die.
‘I intreat you not to let me fall a Sacrifice to the Envy and ungodly Rage of some few Men, who, not being yet satisfied with Blood, feign to believe, that if I had the Happiness of a longer Life in this World, I should still employ it in a wicked Manner; which, to remove that and all other Doubts with your Honour, I heartily beseech you’ll permit me to live, and I’ll voluntarily put it ever out of my Power, by separating all my Limbs from my Body, only reserving the Use of my Tongue, to call continually on, and pray to the Lord, my God, and mourn all my Days in Sack-cloth and Ashes to work out confident Hopes of my Salvation, at that great and dreadful Day, when all righteous Souls shall receive their just Rewards: And to render your Honour a further Assurance of being incapable to prejudice any of my Fellow-Christians, if I was so wickedly bent; I humbly beg you will (as a Punishment of my Sins for my poor Soul’s Sake) indent me a menial Servant to your Honour and this Government, during my Life, and send me up to the farthest Inland Garrison or Settlement in the Country, or any otherways you’ll be pleased to dispose of me; and likewise that you’ll receive the Willingness of my Friends to be bound for my good Behaviour, and constant Attendance to your Commands.
‘I once more beg for the Lord’s Sake, dear Sir, that as you are a Christian, you will be so charitable to have Mercy and Compassion on my miserable Soul, but too newly awaked from an Habit of Sin, to entertain so confident Hopes and Assurance of its being received into the Arms of my blessed Jesus, as is necessary to reconcile me to so speedy a Death; wherefore, as my Life, Blood, Reputation of my Family, and future happy State lies entirely at your Disposal; I implore you to consider me with a christian and charitable Heart, and determine mercifully of me, that I may ever acknowledge and esteem you next to God my Saviour; and oblige me ever to pray, that our heavenly Father will also forgive your Trespasses.
‘Now the God of Peace, that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the Sheep, thro’ the Blood of the everlasting Covenant, make you perfect in every good Work to do his Will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his Sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be Glory for ever and ever, is the hearty Prayer of
Your Honour’s
Most miserable, and
Afflicted Servant,
STEDE BONNET.’
Of Captain WORLEY.
The History of the Pyrates being an Undertaking of great Length and Variety, the Author readily owns, that in some Parts, he may not be so exact, as they who have been occasionally upon the Spot when these particular Incidents have happen’d. But in any Circumstances he has omitted or misrepresented, he applies to such Persons for better Information; which Correction or Addition (as several others have been) shall be inserted as a Supplement to the whole.