“This was consented to by all, and so Russel, having his Arms taken from him, was order’d not to offer the least Disturbance again, nor concern himself with or about me, ’till after I was on Board the Commodore, on Pain of the Crew’s Displeasure, and also of being prosecuted as a Mutineer; and the Gunner, Master, Boatswain, &c. bid me not be discourag’d; assuring me, that there should no Harm come to me while I was on Board of them; and that they would send me away now, but that there is, said they, an express Order among us, to receive no Boats on Board after eight at Night, or nine a-Clock at farthest; but they would put me on Board Capt. Loe in the Morning, where they were sure I should be protected and secur’d from the revengeful Hand of Capt. Russel; for they said, they were sure that Capt. Loe had a great Respect for me, and would be a Means to counter-ballance Russel; and they said they would sit up with me all Night for my greater Security: Which they did, smoaking and drinking and talking, every one according to his Inclination, and so we pass’d the Time away ’till Day.
“Russel went to sleep about two a-Clock in the Morning in his Cabbin; however, the Master, the Gunner, and five or six more, did not go to Bed all that Night, but would have had me gone to sleep, telling me, I need not fear, for they would take Care that Russel should not hurt me.
“About eight a-Clock in the Morning, I was carry’d on Board Capt. Loe, the Gunner and Steward going with me, who told him all that had pass’d; and acquainted him, that they still believ’d Russel to be so implacable against me, that he would murder me in cold Blood before I got clear of them, if he did not interpose to protect me from his Violence. Capt. Loe said, He very well knew, and he believ’d so did they all, what was the Reason that made Russel so inveterate and implacable to me: He added, That Russel did not do well; and that I had behav’d myself so inoffensively, that there could be no Reason to induce the most savage Monster to be such an irreconcilable Enemy to me; but that ’twas an easy Matter to dive into the Cause of it, to wit, his being thwarted by the Company in his Humour; and because they would not break thro’ the Articles which cemented them together, and which were sign’d and swore to by them all, as the standing Rule of their Duty, by which only they could decide and settle Controversies and Differences among themselves; the least Breach of which, would be a Precedent for the like Infractions, whenever Russel, or any other, thought fit to give Way either to Revenge or Ambition, and that then all their Counsels would be fluctuating; and Fancy, and not Reason, would be the Rule of their Conduct; and their Resolutions would be render’d more unconstant than the Weathercock. He added, That he hoped the Company would inviolably adhere to their establish’d Laws, which, he said, were very good; and were they not, yet, as they were made by the unanimous Consent of the whole Company, so they ought not to be alter’d without the same unanimous Consent; concluding, that, for his Part, he would rather chuse to be out of the Company than in it, if they did not resolve to be determin’d by their Articles. Hereupon they answer’d, That what he had said was very good, and they were resolv’d to adhere to his Advice.
“After this they drank a Dram, and then return’d with their Boat on Board the Scooner; and Capt. Loe told me, he was sorry for Capt. Russel’s Disgust against me, because he believ’d it would be a disadvantage to me; but, however, there was no Remedy but Patience; assuring me, That Russel should neither kill me, nor abuse my Person, and I should have my Sloop again, and be discharg’d in as short a while as possible, that I might be clear of Russel, who, he was afraid, would always continue my Foe.
“All the Officers and Men likewise spoke very friendly to me, and bid me not be daunted; so we pass’d the Time away in several Kinds of Discourse ’till Dinner; after which, Loe order’d a Bowl of Punch to be made, and said he wish’d I was well clear of them.
“About four a-Clock in the Afternoon Capt. Russel came on Board, as did also Francis Spriggs, who commanded the other Ship, and after a little while, says Russel to Capt. Loe, The Mate of the Sloop is willing to enter with us as a Volunteer.
“Loe made Answer, and said, How must we do in that Case? For then the Master of the Sloop will have no Body to help him, but one Boy; for, says he, the little Child is no Help at all.
“Russel said, He could not help that. But, said Loe, we must not take all the Hands from the poor Man, if we design to give him his Sloop again; adding, That he thought in Reason there could not be less than two Boys and the Mate.
“Z—ds, says Russel, his Mate is a lusty young brisk Man, and has been upon the Account before, and told me but even now (for, said he, I was on Board the Sloop but just before I came here, and Frank Spriggs was along with me, and heard him say), That he was fully resolv’d to go with us, and would not go any more in the Sloop, unless forced; and when he came out of Barbadoes, he said, his Design was to enter himself on Board the first Pyrate that he met with; And will you refuse such a Man, contrary to your Articles, which you all so much profess to follow; and which enjoin you by all Means, not repugnant to them, to encrease and fill your Company? Besides, continued he, he spoke to me the first Day, that he was resolv’d to enter with us.
“Loe reply’d, That to give the Man his Sloop, and no Hands with him to assist him, was but putting him to a lingering Death, and they had as good almost knock him on the Head, as do it.