This proposal was unanimously approved of by them: But it struck me with a sudden damp, apprehending it would be fatal to me. So I began to insinuate, “It would not be proper for me to accept of such a quantity of other Peoples Goods, as they had so generously voted for me:” And going on to give my reasons, I was immediately interrupted by several of the Pirates, who began to be very angry, that I did not readily accept of what had been proposed, so much for my advantage, as they thought; for many of them were so ignorant, as to think their Gift would have been legal.
On this, Captain Davis said, “I know this Man, and can easily guess his thoughts concerning this matter; for he thinks, if he should act in the manner you have proposed, he shall ever after lose his Reputation. Now I am for allowing every body to go to the Devil in their own way; so desire you will give him the remains of his own Cargoe, with what is left of his private Adventure, and let him do with it what he thinks fitting.”
This was readily granted, and they advised me to take Le Boose’s Brigantine, which he had then just quitted, (having fitted one of the Prizes for a Pirate-ship for him and his Crew) and carry her along the side of my Ship, in order to save the Goods then left undestroyed in her; allowing me some of my own People to do it. By this means we saved a considerable part of the Cargoe, but of my private Adventure not above thirty Pounds Sterling: for that chiefly consisting in Necessaries and Liquors, with fine Goods, was soon destroyed by them: One instance of which out of many I shall give. The Pirates took several Pieces of fine Holland, and opening them, spread them on the Deck; and being almost drunk, lay down on them: Then others came and threw Buckets of Claret upon them, which rousing them up, and the Hollands being thereby stained, they flung the Pieces overboard.
Captain Davis likewise further obtained for me, that I might lye on board the Two Friends Captain Elliot of Barbadoes; whom they had taken and forced to be their Store Ship; and that I might go on Shore when I pleased, to my Friend Captain Glynn’s house, on condition I should return whenever they sent for me.
And now, the Tide being turned, they were as kind to me, as they had been at first severe. So we got the Brigantine along the side of the Prize, and as Bale-goods and Cases came to hand, we got them into her; only now and then we lost some, by the ill-nature of two or three leading Pirates: For if we could not receive the Goods so fast as they expected, with the few People I had of my own then with me, they would let them drop overboard.
The same they did by a quantity of Irish Beef, the first day after I was taken; for they despised it, having found so much English, in the several Prizes they had met with in the River. This sight moved me to intreat Captain Cocklyn to give me the Irish Beef they were going to throw overboard; for the use of my poor People that had not entered with them. But I being then under the high Displeasure of him and his Crew, he brutishly replied, “There is Horse-beans enough in the Prize to serve you and your People six Months.” To which I answered, “It was coarse diet.” But finding this put him into a passion, I held my Tongue, and the Beef was all cast into the Sea.
In this place I think it proper to acquaint the Reader, What danger all the Prisoners were in by a false Report brought on board the Prize Ships that afternoon. For it was confidently averred by some Negroes, “That one of their Crew was murdered, by two Captains, whose names were Bennet and Thompson, who had been obliged to fly into the Woods from the rage of the Pirates.” And they added, “That these two Gentlemen coming to the House of one Mr. Jones, (who lived a great way up the River) to seek for Provisions, they there met with the person whom they had killed.” Upon this report the Pirates resolved to revenge themselves on us who were their prisoners: “Which obliged me to argue with them, and observe how great a cruelty it would be, to punish us who were wholly innocent, for the faults of others.” Moreover I said, “The report might be false, it coming from the Shore-Negroes; and I hoped at least they would defer their resentment against us, till they had a more certain account of the matter.” This calmed their Rage a little, when, to our great Joy, the Person that was reported to be killed, came on board soon after; and told his Comrades, that he had met with Captain Bennet and Thompson at Mr. Jones’s House, who threatned him; from which the report arose that they had killed him; but that they had not otherwise misused him: So on this their Passion was entirely calmed.
As I have mentioned these two Captains, Bennet and Thompson, I shall give an account of their Misfortunes, which I had afterwards from their own Mouths. Captain John Bennet, being bound from Antegoa to the Coast of Guinea, was taken at Cape de Verd Islands by Davis. Who, after plundering him, restored him his Ship; and he went into the River Sieraleon, where Captain Thompson was arrived before him. Upon Cocklyn the Pirate’s coming into the River, they carried their Ships a good way up, to a place called Brent’s-Island, being the Settlement of the Royal African Company; where one Mr. Plunket was Governour. Having got their Ships very near the Shore, they made a Battery thereon, and having landed Ammunition, resolved with their People to defend themselves to the utmost: thinking at that time they would remain faithful. Le Boose being arrived in his Brigantine, and hearing that several Ships were up the River, he resolved to have one of them for his use; so he went up to attack them, and they bravely defended themselves against him: But, soon after, Cocklyn coming with his Ship to the assistance of Le Boose, their People begun to faulter; and these gallant Captains were, for saving their Lives, obliged, with Mr. Plunket, and several of their Officers, to fly into the Woods: Where, for many Weeks, they remained, having nothing to subsist on but Rice, with now and then some Oysters, which they got by night from the River side: neither durst they appear near the place where the Pirates were (as long as they remained there) for they had vowed to cut them to pieces, if ever they fell into their hands. Moreover, their Ships were burnt; and Le Boose took for his own use, one Captain Lamb’s Ship, which at that time lay farther up the River. I thought proper to relate this, in order to set the story in a better light, tho’ it happened some Weeks before I was taken.
But now, to return to my Subject. I was relating, how we were employed in saving what Goods we could. This took us up four days; and I slept every night on board their Tender commanded by Captain Elliot, who was very kind to me, and had a great ascendant over the leading Pirates: so that he had seldom the Company of the common sort, having orders to drive them away, whenever they came on board him. And I have often been amazed, to hear and see what he has done to some of them when they were impudent; beating them, and saying, “He was sure he should see them hang’d in due time at Execution-dock.” However, by this means we were generally very easy on board him, which was no little satisfaction to me in my Circumstances.