Whereupon the Prisoners pray’d for longer Time to repent and prepare for Death; but the Governor told them, that from the Time of their being apprehended, which was on the 15th of November, they ought to have accounted themselves as condemn’d by the Laws of all Nations, which was only sealed now; and that the securing them hitherto, and the Favour that the Court had allowed them in making as long a Defence as they could, wholly took up that Time, which the Affairs of the Settlement required in working at the Fortifications; besides the Fatigue thereby occasion’d to the whole Garrison in the necessary Guards, set over them by the Want of a Goal, and the Garrison having been very much lessened by Death and Sickness since his Arrival; also that he was obliged to employ all his People to assist in mounting the great Guns, and in finishing the present Works, with all possible Dispatch, because of the expected War with Spain; and there being many more Pyrates amongst these Islands, and this Place left destitute of all Relief from any Man of War or Station Ship, much wanted, join’d to other Reasons he had, too long to enumerate in Court, he thought himself indispensably obliged, for the Welfare of the Settlement, to give them no longer Time.
Then the Prisoners were ordered to the Place of their Imprisonment in the Fort, where Leave was given them to send for any Persons to read and pray with them.
On Friday Morning each of the Prisoners were call’d in private, to know if they had any Load upon their Spirits, for Actions committed as yet unknown to the World, the declaring of which was absolutely required, to prepare themselves for a fit Repentance; but they each refused to declare any Thing, as well as making known to the Governor, if they knew of any Conspiracy against the Government.
Wherefore, about Ten a-Clock, the Prisoners were releas’d of their Irons, and committed to the Charge and Care of Thomas Robinson, Esq; commissioned Provost Marshal for the Day, who, according to custom in such Cases, pinion’d them, &c. and order’d the Guards appointed to assist him, to lead them to the Top of the Rampart, fronting the Sea, which was well guarded by the Governor’s Soldiers and People, to the Number of about 100. At the Prisoners Request, several select Prayers and Psalms were read, in which all present join’d; when the Service was ended, Orders was given to the Marshal, and he conducted the Prisoners down a Ladder, provided on Purpose, to the Foot of the Wall, where was a Gallows erected, and a black Flag hoisted thereon, and under it a Stage, supported by three Butts, on which they ascended by another Ladder, where the Hangman fasten’d the Cords. They had three Quarters of an Hour allowed under the Gallows, which was spent by them in singing of Psalms, and some Exhortations to their old Consorts, and the other Spectators, who got as near to the Foot of the Gallows as the Marshal’s Guard would suffer them. When the Governor ordered the Marshal to make ready, and all the Prisoners expecting the Launch, the Governor thought fit to order George Rounsivel to be untied, and when brought off the Stage, the Buts having Ropes about them, were hawl’d away; upon which, the Stage fell, and the Prisoners were suspended.
A short Account of the Prisoners executed.
First, John Augur, being about 40 Years of Age, had been a noted Master of Vessels at Jamaica, and since among the Pyrates; but on his accepting of his Majesty’s Act of Grace, and Recommendations to the Governor, he was, notwithstanding, entrusted with a good Vessel and Cargo, in which betraying his Trust, and knowing himself guilty of the Indictment, he all along appeared very penitent, and neither wash’d, shav’d, or shifted his old Cloaths, when carried to be executed; and when he had a small Glass of Wine given him on the Rampart, drank it with Wishes for the good Success of the Bahama Islands and the Governor.
The Second, William Cunningham, aged 45, had been Gunner with Thatch the Pyrate, who being also conscious of his own Guilt, was seemingly penitent, and behaved himself as such.
The Third, Dennis Mackarthy, aged 28, who had also been formerly a Pyrate, but accepted of the King’s Act of Grace; and the Governor had made him an Ensign of the Militia, being recommended as a sober civiliz’d Person, which Commission he had at the Time of his joining the Pyrates, which very much aggravated his other Crimes. During his Imprisonment, he behaved himself tolerably well; but when he thought he was to die, and the Morning came, without his expected Reprieve, he shifted his Cloaths, and wore long blue Ribbons at his Neck, Wrists, Knees, and Cap; and when on the Rampart, look’d cheerfully round him, saying, He knew the Time when there were many brave Fellows on the Island, who would not have suffered him to die like a Dog; and at the same Time pull’d off his Shooes, kicking them over the Parapet of the Fort, saying, He had promis’d not to die with his Shooes on; so descended the Fort Wall, and ascended the Stage, with as much Agility and in a Dress of a Prize-Fighter; when mounted, he exhorted the People, who were at the Foot of the Walls, to have Compassion on him, but, however willing, they saw too much Power over their Heads to attempt any Thing in his Favour.
The Fourth, William Dowling, of about 24 Years of Age, had been a considerable Time amongst the Pyrates, of a wicked Life, which his Majesty’s Act of Grace did not reform; his Behaviour was very loose on the Stage, and after his Death, some of his Acquaintance declared, he had confess’d to them, that he had murder’d his Mother before he left Ireland.
The Fifth, William Lewis, aged about 34 Years, as he had been a hardy Pyrate and Prize Fighter, affected an Unconcern at Death; but heartily desired Liquors to drink with his Sufferers on the Stage, and with the Standers by.