I would not mention such trifling Circumstances; but that I judge they serve to shew the Humours and Temper of these sort of People.
By this time I was loudly called upon to go on board the Pirate-ship. As soon as I came upon Deck, they hurried me over our Ship’s side into the Boat; but when we arrived along the side of the Pirate-Vessel, I told them, “I was disabled in my Arm, and so desired their help to get me into their Ship:” Which was readily done. Then I was ordered to go on the Quarter-deck to their Commander, who saluted me in this manner. “I am sorry you have met with bad usage after Quarter given, but ’tis the Fortune of War sometimes. I expect you will answer truly to all such Questions as I shall ask you: otherwise you shall be cut to pieces; but if you tell the Truth, and your Men make no Complaints against you, you shall be kindly used; and this shall be the best Voyage you ever made in your Life, as you shall find by what shall be given you.” I thanked him for his good Intentions, telling him, “I was content to stand on the footing he had proposed to me:”
Having answered all his Questions, one of which was, “How our Ship sailed both large, and on a wind?” I replying, “Very well:” He then threw up his Hat, saying, “She would make a fine Pirate Man of War.” When I heard that, I must own I could not but be concern’d for having answered so truly in that particular: But then considering, that some of my People would no doubt have told them the same; and moreover, my Journal, when they look’d into it, would have made it plainly appear, which might have proved my Destruction, I satisfied my Mind with these Reflections.
As, in this whole Affair, I greatly experienced the Providence of Almighty God, in his Goodness delivering me from the hands of these Villains, and from many Dangers; so the same good Providence gave me such a presence of Mind, that when I believed I was upon the point of being killed, such Terrors did not arise, as I had formerly experienced, when in danger of Shipwrack. And tho’ I fared very hard, and endured great Fatigues during the time I was there Prisoner; yet praised be God, I enjoyed my Health: Submitting with that Resignation to the Will of the Almighty, as a Man ought to do in such severe Misfortunes.
But to return to my Narrative, which the Remembrance of my past Dangers hath interrupted.
As soon as I had done answering the Captain’s Questions, a tall Man, with four Pistols in his Girdle, and a broad Sword in his Hand, came to me on the Quarter-deck, telling me, “His name was James Griffin, and that we had been School-fellows.” Tho’ I remembred him very well; yet having formerly heard, it had proved fatal to some who had been taken by Pirates, to own any Knowledge of them; I replied, “I could not remember any such Person by name.” Upon that he mentioned some boyish Pranks that had formerly pass’d between us, But I still denying any Knowledge of him, he told me, “He supposed I took him to be one of the Pirate’s Crew, because I saw him armed in that manner; but that he was a forc’d Man, and had been lately chief Mate to Captain James Creichton of Bristol; who was then, with his Ship, in the Possession of the Pirates in the River, and had not been destroyed by them, at his earnest intreaty: That since his being forced, they had obliged him to act as Master of the Pirate-ship; and the reason of his being so armed, was to prevent their imposing on him; for there was hardly any amongst the Crew of Pirates belonging to Captain Cocklyn, but what were cruel Villains; misusing much better Men than themselves, only for having the Misfortune to fall into their Hands, as I had already experienced, and might find hereafter; but he would himself take care of me that night, in which would be my greatest Danger; because many of their People would soon get drunk with the good Liquors found in my Ship.”
This generous Declaration was very acceptable to me, and I then readily owned my former acquaintance with him. Then he turned to Captain Cocklyn, and desired a Bowl of Punch might be made. Which being done, the Captain desired Mr. Griffin my Schoolfellow to show me the way to the great Cabbin, and he followed himself.
There was not in the Cabbin either Chair, or any thing else to sit upon; for they always kept a clear Ship ready for an Engagement: So a Carpet was spread on the Deck, upon which we sat down cross-legg’d. Captain Cocklyn drank my Health, desiring, “I would not be cast down at my Misfortune, for one of the Boat’s Crew who had taken us had told him, My Ship’s Company in general spoke well of me; and they had Goods enough left in the Ships they had taken to make a Man of me.” Then he drank several other Healths, amongst which was that of the Pretender, by the name of King James the Third, and thereby I found they were doubly on the side of the Gallows, both as Traitors and Pirates.
It being by this time Midnight, my Schoolfellow desired the Captain, “To have a Hammock hung up for me to sleep in;” for it seems every one lay rough, as they called it, that is, on the Deck; the Captain himself not being allowed a Bed. This being granted, and soon after done, I took leave of the Captain, and got into the Hammock, tho’ I could not sleep in my melancholy Circumstances. Moreover, the execrable Oaths and Blasphemies I heard among the Ship’s Company, shock’d me to such a degree, that in Hell it self I thought there could not be worse; for tho’ many Seafaring Men are given to swearing and taking God’s Name in vain, yet I could not have imagined, human Nature could ever so far degenerate, as to talk in the manner those abandoned Wretches did.