The Recorder—Who was it put the centinel upon sir John?
T. Court—The captain ordered it to be done.
Vernon—Is it usual to place a centinel at the purser's cabin-door?
T. Court—No, it is not; unless there be somebody there under confinement.
Vernon—Is there any other cabin near the purser's?
T. Court—Yes, there is the slop-room just by; there the cooper and his wife lay that night: there is just a little partition of about half-inch deal, parting the slop-room from the place where sir John lay confined.
Vernon—Pray, will you tell us whether any and what discourse passed between Mr. Goodere and you, about sailing, and when it was?
T. Court—Sir, in the morning he asked me, Will the wind serve to sail? He said, he had another pressing letter from the lords of the admiralty to sail as soon as possible. I told him that the wind was west-south-west, and that we could not go out to sea; for no pilot would take charge of the ship I believed. And as this is a harbour where a pilot is allowed, I don't pass for this place; otherwise I must have observed his orders.
Vernon—Did he acquaint you how far or to what part, he would have you sail?
T. Court—Yes, he said, if he got no further than the Holmes, he did not care; and asked me if it was safe riding there. I told him it was not; for it was foul ground for such a ship as ours.