My lodging was in the Steerage near the Bulkhead, that I might be ready and within hearing: And though I was so very a Rogue ashore, yet I was a man of credit aboard, for my Master trusted me with all the choice comforts which concerned his Life, committing to my charge his Wines, both Spanish and French, with Brandy, and several cordial Waters, Sugar, all sorts of Spices; Tobacco, and what not, expedient for long Voyage. Such regard he had of me, that he taught me to Write, and Cypher, which for so short a time I understood so well, as I became the wonder of every one in the Ship; seeing me so forward, he did put me on the copying of his Journals, taught me how to take off the Log, to take the height of the Sun at twelve a Clock, by which we know what Latitude we are in; the knowledge of these things I gained not under three or four Voyages, but in this first expedition I could run up to the Maintop, and furl a Sail, though in a stress of Weather.
I minded so much my business, that I seldom visited any of the Passengers I formerly described, and had almost forgot my little Miss, but perceiving my Masters former kindness to them, was converted into harsh and rough usage, tumbling them like Dogs into the Hold, when sometimes they offered to come upon the Decks to Air themselves, I could not but pity them; and to Buoy up their Spirits, I would frequently give them a Dram, to be sure my Miss had a treble portion, and would often steal her fresh meat, than which I know not what is more valuable in a long run at Sea.
I acted not my business so closely, but that my Master discovered the goodness of my nature to my fellow-travellers; however finding no considerable loss and decay of his Liquors, only threatned me for that time what wonderful punishment he would inflict upon me, if ever he catcht me in the like again: I thinking he had but jested, and trusting to my wit for the secret management of the project, and the excuse thereof when it was effected by the instigation of two lusty young fellows, I was induced to steal from my Master a Bottle of Sack, and getting into a close corner with my forementioned Doxy, whom I had singled out, and these two Fellows, we made a shift to drink it off; they prompted me to fetch another, but I would not yield, till I had first gone aloft, to see whether the Coast was clear; finding my Master asleep in the great Cabbin, I got out a Bottle of French-Wine, which we dispatcht as we had done the other; not satisfied with this, they perswaded me by all means to fetch another, and with that they would be contented; I would not condescend in any case, till the witch my Wench (that by this time was got above half drunk) intreated me with prithee do, what will you deny me? and then I could hold out no longer; but being by the Liquor in a fit mood to do any Roguery, I promised them to return with some more with all expedition; now I began to consider that what we had drank already, was not so strong as Brandy, and therefore lookt on that Liquor most convenient for our drunken purpose; I opened a Guard de-vines, and taking out almost a Quart Bottle, I made what haste I could to my seasoned Drunkards, who were eagerly gazing for me; but finding them too petulantly familiar with my Mistress, I had once a mind to have staved the Bottle, but that I should lose my share of the Brandy, but dissembling well my passion, I drank on with them; but I by reason of the tenderness of my Age, and my Female friend being not accustomed to drinking, were not able to hold out with them: the fumes ascending into my head, I thought my self as good as any man, (judge you whether I was not a proper one at fourteen years of Age?) and would not take an affront from any, and so charging them with the abuse they had done me in being too sawcy with my concerns, I made no more ado, but fell foul with them both, my little Virago seeing me engaged, was resolv’d not to be idle, but with the Glass Bottle lays one of them over the Cox-comb, which breaking, cutt his pate, the sight of his blood made him more afraid than hurt, and fearing lest he should bleed himself to death, acquits our Company, and ran with all speed to the Chirurgion, in the mean time we made our party good with the other, and so pounded him, that he was glad to shoot the Pit, and leave us sole Conquerors of the Field, having now no other enemy in sight to contend with us, I took my stout Amazon by the hand, and led her up aloft in triumph, the Sea-men were ready to die with laughter to see how we had mall’d those two Boobies; but their laughter increast to that excess, that it wakened my Master to see me and my Damsel strutt and reel to and fro the Decks, bidding defiance to them all, daring the best of them to touch her upon their perils; as I was thus Lording it, my Master made his appearance, who was so surprized he knew not what to say, neither was it to any purpose, for my Damsel was as merry as a Hawk, who nothing but sang whilst I Don-Drunken Furioso was storming like a Raging Turk.
My Master perceiving that nothing would appease my wrath, nor silence the harmonious Tongue of my tippled Madam, commanded us both to be clapt in the Bilboes, and there to continue till we were a little more sober. We soon talkt ourselves asleep, and sleept as soundly as if we had lain on a Feather-bed, awakening, we wondred to see our selves in that condition, and could not imagine how we came there, but by some inchantment; but our admiration and amazement were soon converted into something of another nature, by my Masters sending for us; coming before him, there did I see my two Antagonists, the sight whereof immediately informed my memory with the precedent days proceedings; my face did presently discover my guilt.
Heu quam difficile est crimen non prodere vultu?
Alas how hard it is for any face
To hide a crime, if it hath any Grace?
And had not our countenances betrayed us, there were too many apparent evidences for our conviction. Now did I see my quondam loving friend lay aside the pleasantness of his former looks, and assume the severe gravity of a Judges aspect, and having dismist my fighting Madam, sentenced me and my two combatants to be that instant conveyed to the Capston, which was done accordingly, and there were we seized, inclosed within a Hoop, and a Cat of nine tails delivered into each our hands; and this being done, said our Master, Let me see how you will fight now? if you do not lash one another soundly, I will have those that shall; so commanding the Capston Bar to be turned round, to work we went; I laid it on gently at first on him that was before me, but finding the smart of the blows increase, and the lashes multiply in strength as well as quantity, by him that was behind me, I spared my fore-man not a jot, but as fast and as smartly as I could, I jerkt him about; this caused him to redouble his blows on the other, he again on me, and so we went round in that unmerciful manner, that our Master out of meer pity was forc’d to release us.
The severity of this punishment (for none could have had the heart to have whipt us as we whipt our selves,) cured me of my Drunken fits for that whole Voyage, and so reduced me to order and civility, that I was once more received into his favour. And now I grew so cautious in the disposal of those Liquors of Life, that none participated with me in their enjoyments, but my Master and his friends, who was a severe check over me in what he had committed to my charge. Immediately after our arrival at Barbadoes, having complemented the Island with the usual ceremony of firing some Guns, a swarm of Boats from thence settled about our Ship, the Planters therein boarded us on every side, as if they intended to have made lawful Prize of us. Our Commodities between Decks were forthwith rubbig’d, (rummig’d I mean) and exposed to the view of the Buyer; they need not question the goodness of the Ware, since it hath been sufficiently tryed, and could not want a probatum on the report of hundreds. Nothing troubled me more than to see my young Female Comrade truckt for Tobacco, the exchange of equal levity, and as the one is fit only to be burnt, so in time may the other, though so green one would imagine nor capable of entertaining a flame. They were all disposed off in a very short time, and those that despaired of ever having Husbands in England, had them here ready made to their hands, and they with others found in this remote place a conveniency for raising a new credit and reputation, which they had irrecoverably lost elsewhere.