Chapter XI: Captain Roberts’ Account of What Happened on Low’s Ship (1)

Captain George Roberts sailed from London in September, 1721, mate of the ship “King Sagamore,” twenty-two guns, Capt. Andrew Scott, commander, bound for the Barbadoes and Virginia where he was to take command of a sloop and buy a cargo to slave with on the coast of Guinea. After various delays he reached the Cape Verde islands in the sloop “Margaret,” “sixty ton of cask,” and at Curisal Road, on the island of St. Nicholas, was taken by the pirate fleet of which Capt. Ned Low was commodore. Captain Roberts afterwards recounted his adventures in a volume published[109] in London, from which the following account is taken.

“When I came on board the _Rose Pink_, the Company welcomed me on board, and said, _They were sorry for my Loss; but told me, I must go to pay my Respects to the Captain, who was in the Cabbin, and waited for me_. I was ushered in by an Officer, who, I think, was their Gunner, and who, by his Deportment, acted as though he had been Master of the Ceremonies; tho’ I do not remember to have heard of such an Officer or Office mentioned among them, neither do I know whether they are always so formal on Board their Commodore, at the first Reception of their captivated Masters of Vessels. When I came into the Cabbin, the Officer who conducted me thither, after paying his Respects to the Commodore, told him, _That I was the Master of the Sloop which they had taken the Day before_, and then withdrew out of the Cabbin, leaving us two alone.

“Captain _Loe_, with the usual Compliment, welcomed me on board, and told me, _He was very sorry for my Loss, and that it was not his Desire to meet with any of his Country-men, but rather with Foreigners, excepting some few that he wanted to chastise for their Rogueishness_, as he call’d it: _But however_, says he, _since Fortune has ordered it so, that you have fallen into our Hands, I would have you to be of good Cheer, and not to be cast down_. I told him, _That I also was very sorry, that it was my Chance to fall into their Way; but still encouraged myself in the Hopes, that I was in the Hands of Gentlemen of Honour and Generosity; it being still in their Power whether to make this their Capture of me, a Misfortune or not_. He said, _It did not lie in his particular Power; for he was but one Man, and all Business of this Nature, must be done in Publick, and by a Majority of Votes by the whole Company; and though neither he, nor, he believed, any of the Company, desired to meet with any of their own Nation (except some few Persons for the Reasons before-mention’d) yet when they did, it could not well be avoided, but that they must take as their own what Providence sent them: And as they were Gentlemen, who entirely depended upon Fortune, they durst not be so ungrateful to her, as to refuse any Thing which she put into their Way; for if they should despise any of her Favours, tho’ never so mean, they might offend her, and thereby cause her to withdraw her Hand from them; and so, perhaps, they might perish for want of those Things, which in their rash Folly they slighted_. He then, in a very obliging Tone, desired me to sit down, he himself all this Time not once moving from his Seat, which was one of the great Guns, though there were Chairs enough in the Cabbin; but I suppose, he thought he should not appear so martial, or Hero-like, if he sat on a Chair, as he did on a great Gun.

“After I had sat down, he asked me, _What I would drink?_ I thank’d him, and told him, _I did not much Care for drinking; but out of a Sense of the Honour he did me in asking, I would drink any Thing with him which he pleased to drink_. He told me, _It would not avail me any Thing to be cast down: It was Fortune of War, and grieving or vexing myself, might be of no good Consequence in respect to my Health; besides, it would be more taking_, he said, _with the Company, to appear brisk, lively, and with as little Concern as I could. And come_, says he, _you may, and I hope you will, have better Fortune hereafter_. So ringing the Cabbin-bell, and one of his _Valet de Chambres_, or rather _Valet de Cabins_, appearing, he commanded him to make a Bowl of Punch, in the great Bowl, which was a rich silver one, and held, I believe, about two Gallons; which being done, he ordered likewise some Wine to be set on the Table, and accordingly two Bottles of Claret were brought; and then he took the Bowl and drank to me in Punch; but bid me pledge him in which I liked best; which I did in Wine. He told me, _That what he could favour me in, he would, and wished that it had been my Fortune to have been taken by them ten Days or a Fortnight sooner; for then_, he said, _they had abundance of good Commodities, which they took in_ 2 Portugueze _outward-bound_ Brasile _Men, viz. Cloth, as well Linens as Woollens, both fine and coarse, Hats of all sorts, Silk, Iron, and other rich Goods in abundance, and believed, he could have prevailed with the Company even to have loaded my Sloop. But now they had no Goods at all, he believed, having disposed of them all, either by giving them to other Prizes, &c. or heaving the rest into_ David Jones’s Locker (i.e. the Sea); _but did not know, but it might be his Lot, perhaps, to meet with me again, when it might lie in his Way to make me a Retaliation for my present Loss; and he did assure me, that when such an Occasion, as he was but now a speaking of, offered, I might depend he would not be wanting to serve me in any Thing that might turn to my Advantage, as far as his Power or Interest could reach_. I could do no less, in common Civility, and the Truth is, I dared do no less, than thank him....

“I was order’d to remain on Board the Commodore till by a general Vote of the Company it should be determin’d how I and the Sloop were to be dispos’d of; and Captain _Loe_ ordered a Hammock and Bedding to be fix’d for me, and told me, _That he would not oblige me to sit up later than I thought fit, nor drink more than suited my own Inclination; and that he lik’d my Company no longer than his was agreeable to me_; adding, _That there should be no Confinement or Obligation as to drinking, or sitting up, but I might drink, and go to sleep, when I pleas’d, without any Exceptions being taken, ordering me to want for nothing that was on Board; for I was very welcome to anything that was there, as to Eatables and Drinkables_. I thank’d him, and told him, _I would, with all due Gratefulness, make Use of that Freedom which he was so generous to offer me, &c._ About Eight a-Clock at Night I took my Leave of him, and went to my Hammock, where I continued all Night, with Thoughts roving and perplex’d enough, not being able, as yet, to guess what they design’d to do with me, whether they intended to give me the Sloop again, or to burn her, as I heard it toss’d about by some, or to keep me as a Prisoner on Board, or put me ashoar.

“My two Boys and Mate remained still on Board the Sloop, but all the rest they took on Board of them, not once so much as asking them whether they would Enter with them, only demanding their Names, which the Steward writ down in their Roll-Book.

“About eight a-Clock in the Morning I turn’d out, and went upon Deck, and as I was walking backwards and forwards, as is usual amongst us Sailors, there came up one of the Company to me, and bid me Good-Morrow, and told me, _He was very sorry for my Misfortune_. I answer’d, _So was I_: He look’d at me, and said, _He believ’d I did not know him_. I replied, _It was true, I did not know him; neither, at present, could I call to mind that ever I had seen him before in the whole Course of my Life_. He smil’d, and said, _He once belong’d to me, and sail’d with me when I was Commander of the_ Susannah _in the Year 1718_ (At that Time I was Master of a Ship call’d the _Susannah_, about the Burthen of 300 Tons, whereof was sole Owner Mr. _Richard Stephens_, Merchant, living at this present writing in _Shad-Thames_, _Southwark_ Side, near _London_----) In the _Interim_ came up two more, who told me they all belong’d to me in the _Susannah_, at one Time. By this time I had recollected my Memory so far as just to call them to Mind, and that was all; and then I told them I did remember them. They said, they were truly very sorry for my Misfortune, and would do all that lay in their Power to serve me, and told me, they had among them the Quantity of about 40 or 50 Pieces of white Linnen Cloth, and 6 or 8 Pieces of Silk, besides some other Things; and they would also, they said, make what Interest they could for me with their Consorts and Intimates, and with them would make a Gathering for me of what Things they could, and would put it on Board for me as soon as the Company had determined that I should have my Sloop again. They then look’d about them as tho’ they had something to say that they were not willing any body should hear; but as it happen’d, there was no body nigh us, which was an Opportunity very rare in these Sort of Ships, of speaking without Interruption: But we lying too all Night, no body had any thing to do, but the Lookers-out, at the Topmast-head; the Mate of the Watch, Quarter-master of the Watch, Helmsman, _&c._ being gone down to drink a Dram, I suppose, or to smoak a Pipe of Tobacco, or the like. However it was, we had the Quarter Deck intire to our selves, and they seeing the Coast clear, told me, with much seeming Concern, That if I did not take abundance of Care, they would force me to stay with them, for my Mate had inform’d them, that I was very well acquainted on the Coast of _Brasile_, and they were bound down along the Coast of _Guinea_, and afterwards design’d to stretch over to the Coast of _Brasile_: That there was not one Man of all the Company that had ever been upon any Part of that Coast; and that there was but one Way for me to escape being forced; but I must be very close, and not discover what they were going to tell me; for if it was known that they had divulg’d it, notwithstanding they were enter’d Men, and as much of the Company as any of them, yet they were sure it would cost them no smaller a Price for it than their Lives. I told them, I was very much obliged to them for their Goodwill, and did not wish them to have any Occasion for my Service; but if ever it should be so, they might depend it should be to the utmost of my Power; and as for my betraying any thing that they should tell me of, they could not fear that, because my own Interest would be a sufficient Tye upon me to the contrary; and were it not so, and that I was sure to get Mountains of Gold by divulging it to their Prejudice, I would sooner suffer my Tongue to be pluck’d out.

“They said, they did not much fear my revealing it, because the disclosing it would rather be a Prejudice to me than an Advantage, and therefore out of pure Respect to me they would tell me; which was thus: _You must know_, said they, _that we have an Article which we are sworn to, which is, not to force any married Man, against his Will, to serve us: Now we have been at a close Consultation whether we should oblige you to go with us, not as one of the Company, but as a forc’d Prisoner, in order to be our Pilot on the Coast of_ Brasile, _where we are designed to Cruise, and hope to make our Voyage; and your Mate_, continued they, _has offer’d to Enter with us, but desires to defer it till we have determined your Case_. _Now your Mate, as yet, is ignorant of our Articles, we never exposing them to any till they are going to sign them. He was ask’d, Whether you was married or not? and he said, he could not tell for certain, but believed you was not: Upon which we spoke, and said, we had known you several Years, and had sail’d with you in a Frigat-built Ship of 300 Tons, or more: That you was an extraordinary good Man to your Men, both for Usage and Payment; and that, to our Knowledge, you was married, and had four Children then: However, there is one Man who would fain have the Company break through their Oath on that Article, and tells them, they may, and ought to do it, because it is a Case of Necessity, they having no Possibility of getting a Pilot at present for that Coast, except they take you: And in their Run along the Coast of_ Guinea, _if they should light of any body that was acquainted with the Coast of_ Brasile, _and no way exempted from serving them by the Articles, then they might take him, and turn you ashore, but ’till such offer’d, he did not see but the Oath might be dispens’d with; but_, continued they, _Captain_ Loe _is very much against it, and told them, That it would be an ill Precedent, and of bad Consequence; for if we once take the Liberty of breaking our Articles and Oath, then there is none of us can be sure of any thing: If_, said Captain _Loe, you can perswade the Man upon any Terms to stay with us as a Prisoner, or otherwise, well and good; if not, do not let us break the Laws that we have made our selves, and sworn to_. They went on, and told me, _That most of the Company seem’d to agree with Captain_ Loe’s _Opinion, but_ Russel, said they, _seem’d to be sadly nettled at it, that his Advice was not to be taken; and_, continued they, _you will be ask’d the Question, we reckon, by and by, when_ Russel _comes on Board, and all the Heads meet again; but you must be sure to say you are married, and have five or six Children; for it is only that, that will prevent your being forced; tho’, you may depend upon it_, Russel _will do what he can to perswade the Company to break the Article, which we hope they will not, nor shall they ever have our Consent; and, indeed, there are very few of the Company but what are against it, but_ Russel _bears a great Sway in the Company, and can almost draw them any Way. However, we have put you in the best Method that we can, and hope it will do: But, for fear Notice should be taken of our being so long together, we have told you as much as we can, and leave you to manage it; and so God bless you._

“Upon this, away they went, and by-and-by Captain _Loe_ turns out, and comes upon Deck, and bidding me Good-morrow, ask’d me, _How I did? and how I lik’d my Bed?_ I thank’d him, and told him, _I was very well, at his Service, and lik’d my Bed very well, and was very much obliged to him for the Care he had taken of me_. After which, he order’d a Consultation Signal to be made, which was their _Green Trumpeter_, as they call’d him, hoisted at the Mizen-Peek: It was a green silk Flag, with a yellow Figure of a Man blowing a Trumpet on it. The Signal being made, away came the Boats flocking on Board the Commodore, and when they were all come on Board, Captain _Loe_ told them, He only wanted them to Breakfast with him; so down they went into the Cabbin, as many as it would well hold, and the rest in the Steerage, and where they could.

“After Breakfast, Captain _Loe ask’d_ me, _If I was married? and how many Children I had?_ I told him, _I had been married about ten Years, and had five Children when I came from Home, and did not know but I might have six now, one being on the Stocks when I came from Home_. He asked me, _Whether I had left my Wife well provided for, when I came from Home?_ I told him, _I had left her in but very indifferent Circumstances: That having met with former Misfortunes, I was so low reduc’d, that the greatest Part of my Substance was in this Sloop and Cargo; and that, if I was put by this Trip, I did not know but my Family might want Bread before I could supply them_.

“_Loe_ then turning to _Russel_, said, _It will not do_, Russel. _What will not do_, said _Russel_? _Loe_ answer’d, _You know who I mean; we must not, and it shall not be, by G--d. It must, and shall, by G--d_, reply’d _Russel; Self-Preservation is the first Law of Nature, and Necessity, according to the old Proverb, has no Law. Well_, says _Loe, It shall never be with my Consent_. Hereupon most of the Company said, _It was a Pity, and ought to be taken into Consideration, and seriously weighed amongst them, and then put to the Vote_. At which _Loe_ said, _So it ought, and there is nothing like the Time present to decide the Controversy, and to determine the Matter_. They all answered, _Ay, it was best to end it now_.

“Then _Loe_ ordered them all to go upon Deck, and bid me stay in the Cabbin; so up they went all hands, and I sat still and smoak’d a Pipe of Tobacco, Wine and Punch being left on the Table: And tho’ I was very impatient to know the Determination, sometimes hoping it would be in my Favour, and sometimes fearing the contrary; yet I durst not go out of the Cabbin to hear what they said, nor make any Enquiry about it.

“After they had been upon Deck about two Hours, they came down again, and _Loe_ ask’d me, _How I did? and how I lik’d my Company since they went upon Deck?_ I thank’d him, and said, _I was very well, at his Service; and as for my Company, I lik’d it very well, and it was Company that few would dislike. Why_, said he, _I thought you had been all alone ever since we went upon Deck_. I answer’d, _How could you think, Sir, that I was alone, when you left me three such boon, jolly Companions to keep me Company?_

“_Z--ds_, says _Loe_, and seem’d a little angry, _I left no-body, and ordered no-body but the Boy_ Jack, _and him I bid stay at the Cabbin-Door, with-out-side, and not go in, nor stir from the Door, ’till I bid him. But_, I said, _Sir, my three Companions were not humane Bodies, but those which you left on the Table, to wit, a Pipe of Tobacco, a Bottle of_ French _Claret, and a Bowl of Punch_; at which they all laugh’d, and _Loe_ said, _I was right_: So after some Discourses had pass’d by way of Diversion, _Russel_ said to me. _Master, your Sloop is very Leaky_; I said, _Yes, she made Water. Water!_ says he, _I do not know what you could do with her, suppose we were to give her to you. Besides, you have no Hands, for all your Hands now belong to us._ I said, _Sirs, if you please to give her to me, I do not fear, with God’s Blessing, but to manage her well enough, if you let me have only those which are on Board, which I hope you will: namely, my Mate and the two Boys. Well_, says he, _and suppose we did, you have no Cargo, for we have taken, to replenish our Stores, all the Rum, Sugar, Tobacco, Rice, Flower, and, in short, all your Cargo and Provisions_. I told him, _I would do as well as I could, and if the worst came to the worst, I could load the Sloop with Salt, and carry it to the_ Canaries, _where, I knew, they were in great Want of Salt at present, and therefore was sure it would come to a good Market there: Ay, but_, says he, _how will you do to make your Cargo of Salt, having no Hands, and having nothing wherewith to hire the Natives to help you to make it, or to pay for their bringing it down on their Asses; for you must believe_, said he, _I understand Trade_. I told him, _If it did come to that Extremity, I had so good Interest both at the Island of_ Bona Vist, _as likewise at the Isle of_ May, _that I was sure the Inhabitants would assist me all that they could, and trust me for their Pay till I return’d again; especially when they came to know the Occasion that oblig’d me to it; and that, upon the Whole, I did not fear, with God’s Blessing, to get a Cargo of Salt on Board, if they would be so generous as to give me the Sloop again. Well but_, says Russel, _suppose we should let you have the Sloop, and that you could do as you say, what would you do for Provisions? for we shall leave you none; and I suppose I need not tell you, for, without doubt, you know it already, that all these Islands to Windward are in great Scarcity of Victuals, and especially the two Islands that produce the Salt, which have been oppress’d for many Years with a sore Famine_. I told him, _I was very sensible that all he said last was true, but hop’d, if they gave me the Sloop, they would also be so generous as to give me some Provisions, a small quantity of which would serve my little Company; but if not, I could go down to the Leeward Islands, where, likewise, I had some small Interest, and I did not doubt but I could have a small Matter of such Provisions as the Islands afforded, namely, Maiz, Pompions, Feshunes, &c. with which, by God’s Assistance, we would endeavour to make shift, ’till it pleased God we could get better. Ay but_, says he, _perhaps your Mate and Boys will not be willing to run that Hazard with you, nor care to endure such Hardship_. I told him, _As for my Boys, I did not fear their Compliance, and hop’d my Mate would also do the same, seeing I requir’d him to undergo no other Hardship but what I partook of myself. Ay, but_, says Russel, _Your Mate has not the same Reasons as you have, to induce him to bear with all those Hardships, which you must certainly be exposed to in doing what you propose; and therefore you cannot expect him to be very forward in accepting such hard Terms with you; (tho’ I cannot conceive it to be so easie to go through with, in the Manner you propose, as you seem to make it)_. I answer’d, _As for the Mate’s Inclinations, I was not able positively to judge in this Affair, but I believed him to be an honest, as well as a conscientious Man, and as I had been very civil to him in several Respects, in my Prosperity, so I did not doubt, if I had the Liberty to talk with him a little on this Affair, but he would be very willing to undergo as much Hardship to extricate me out of this my Adversity, as he could well bear, or I in Reason require of him, which would be no more than I should bear myself; and when it pleased God to turn the Scales, I would endeavour to make him Satisfaction to the full of what, in reason, he could expect, or, at least, as far as I was able_.

“_Come, come_, says Captain _Loe, let us drink about. Boy! how does the Dinner go forward?_ The Boy answer’d, _Very well, Sir_. Says Loe, _Gentlemen, you must all Dine with me to Day._ They unanimously answer’d, _Ay: Come then_, says Loe, _toss the Bowl about, and let us have a fresh One, and call a fresh Cause_.

“They all agreed to this, and then began to talk of their past Transactions at _Newfoundland_, the _Western Islands_, _Canary Islands_, &c. What Ships they had taken, and how they serv’d them when in their Possession; and how they oblig’d the Governor of the Island of St. _Michael_ to send them off two Boat-Loads of fresh Meat, Greens, Wine, Fowls, &c. or otherwise, threatened to damnifie the Island, by burning some of the small Vilages: Of their Landing on the Island of _Teneriff_, to the Northward of _Oratavo_, in hopes of meeting with a Booty, but got nothing but their Skins full of Wine; and how they had like to have been surpriz’d by the Country, which was raised upon that Occasion, but got all off safe, and without any Harm, except one Man, who receiv’d a Shot in his Thigh after they were got into their Boats; but, they said, they caused several of the _Spaniards_ to drop; and, That they should have been certainly lost, if they had tarried but half a quarter of an Hour longer in the House where they were drinking, and where they expected to get the Booty, which they Landed in quest of, according to the Information given them by one of the Inhabitants of the Island, who was taken by them in a Fishing-Boat, and told them, that, that Gentleman had an incredible Quantity of Money, as well as Plate, in his House: And on this Occasion they threatened the poor Fisherman how severely they would punish him for giving them a false Information, if ever they should light of him again; but, I suppose, the Fellow kept close ashore after they let him go, all the Time they lay lurking about the Island: They also boasted how many _French_ Ships they had taken upon the Banks of _Newfoundland_, and what a vast Quantity of Wine, especially _French_ Claret, they took from them; with abundance of such like Stuff; which, as it did not immediately concern me, so I shall not trouble myself with particularizing: And, indeed, my Attention was so wholly taken up with the Uncertainty of my own Affairs, that I gave no great Heed to those Subjects that were foreign to me; and which, for that Reason, made but a slight Impression on my Memory.

“In this Manner they pass’d the Time away, drinking and carousing merrily, both before and after Dinner, which they eat in a very disorderly Manner, more like a Kennel of Hounds, than like Men, snatching and catching the Victuals from one another; which, tho’ it was very odious to me, it seem’d one of their chief Diversions, and, they said, look’d Martial-like.

“Before it was quite dark, every one repaired on Board their respective Vessels, and about Eight a-Clock at Night I went to my Hammock, without observing, as I remember, any thing worth remarking, save, that Captain _Loe_, and I, and three or four more, drank a couple of Bottles of Wine after the Company were gone, before we went to Sleep, in which time we had abundance of Discourse concerning _Church_ and _State_, as also about _Trade_, which would be tedious to relate in that confused Manner we talked of these Subjects, besides the Reason I just now mentioned.

“_Loe_ stay’d up after me, and when I was in my Hammock, I heard him give the necessary Orders for the Night, which were, that they were to lie too with their Head to the _North Westward_, as, indeed, we had ever since I had been on Board of him; to mind the Top-light, and for the Watch, to be sure, above all things, to keep a good Look-out; and to call him if they saw any thing, or if the other Ships made any Signals.

“I passed this Night as the former, ruminating on my present unhappy Condition, not yet being able to dive into, or fathom their Designs, or what they intended to do with me, and often thinking on what the three Men told me, as also on what the Company said, but in a more particular manner, of what _Russel_ told me concerning my Mate, ’till Sleep overpowered my Senses, and gave me a short Recess from my Troubles.

“In the Morning, about five a-Clock, I turned out, and a little after, one of the three Men who spoke to me the Morning before, came to me, and bid me Good-morrow, and ask’d me very courteously how I did? and told me, that they would all three, as before, have come and spoke to me, but were afraid the Company, especially _Russel’s_ Friends, would think they held a secret Correspondence with me, which was against one of their Articles, it being punishable by Death, to hold any secret Correspondence with a Prisoner; but they hop’d all would be well, and that they believ’d I should have my Sloop again; _Russel_ being the only Man who endeavour’d to hinder it, and he only, on the Account of having me to go with them on the Coast of _Brasile_; but that most of the Company was against it, except the meer Creatures of _Russel_. He said, I might thank my Mate for it all, who, he much fear’d, would prove a Rogue to me, and Enter with them; and then, if they should give me my Sloop, I should be sadly put to it to manage her myself, with one Boy, and the little Child. He also said, That he, and the other two, heartily wish’d they could go with me in her, but that it was impossible to expect it, it being Death even to motion it, by another of their Articles, which says, _That if any of the Company shall advise, or speak any thing tending to the separating or breaking of the Company, or shall by any Means offer or endeavour to desert or quit the Company, that Person shall be shot to Death by the Quarter-Master’s Order, without the Sentence of a Court-Martial_. He added, That ’till my Mate had given _Russel_ an Account of my being acquainted on the Coast of _Brasile_, he seem’d to be my best Friend, and would certainly have prov’d so, and would have prevail’d with the Company to have made a Gathering for me, which, perhaps, might not have come much short in Value of what they had taken from me; for there was but few in the Company but had several Pieces of Linnen Cloth, Pieces of Silk, spare Hats, Shoes, Stockings, gold Lace, and abundance of other Goods, besides the publick Store, which, if _Russel_ had continued my Friend, for one Word speaking, there was not one of them but would have contributed to make up my Loss; it being usual for them to reserve such Things for no other Use but to give to any whom they should take, or that formerly was of their Acquaintance, or that they took a present Liking to: He said farther, That he believ’d Captain _Loe_ would be my Friend, and do what he could for me; but that, in Opposition to _Russel_, he could do but little, _Russel_ bearing twice the Sway with the Company, that Captain _Loe_ did; and that _Russel_ was always more considerate to those they took, than _Loe_; but now I must expect no Favour from him, he was so exasperated by the Opposition that the Company, and especially Captain _Loe_, made to my being forc’d to go with them on the Coast of _Brasile_: He, however, bid me have a good Heart, and wish’d it lay in his Power to serve me more than it did, and bid me not to take very much Notice, or shew much Freedom with them, but rather a seeming Indifference: Adding, That he and his two Consorts wish’d me as well as Heart could wish, and whatever Service they could do me, while among them, I might assure myself it should not be wanting; desiring me to excuse him, and not take amiss his withdrawing from me; concluding, with Tears in his Eyes, that he did not know whether he should have another Opportunity of private Discourse with me; neither would it be for the Advantage of either of us, except some new Matter offer’d them Occasion to forewarn, or precaution me, which, if it did, one of them would not fail to acquaint me with it: And so he left me.

“Some time after, Captain _Loe_ turn’d out, and after the usual Compliments pass’d, we took a Dram of Rum, and enter’d into Discourse with one or another, on different Subjects; for as a Tavern or Alehouse-keeper endeavours to promote his Trade, by conforming to the Humours of every Customer, so was I forc’d to be pleasant with every one, and bear a Bob with them in almost all their Sorts of Discourse, tho’ never so contrary and disagreeable to my own Inclinations; otherwise I should have fallen under an _Odium_ with them, and when once that happens to be the Case with any poor Man, the Lord have Mercy upon him; for then every rascally Fellow will let loose his Brutal Fancy upon him, and either abuse him with his Tongue (which is the least hurtful) or kick or cuff him, or otherways abuse him, as they are more or less cruel, or artificially raised by Drinking, Passion, _&c._

“Captain _Russel_, with some more, came on Board about ten or eleven a-Clock in the Forenoon, and seem’d to be very pleasant to me, asking me how I did? telling me, that he had been considering of what I said Yesterday, and could not see, how I should be able to go through with it: That it would be very difficult, if not wholly impossible, and I should run a very great Hazard in what I propos’d. He believed, he said, that I was a Man, and a Man of Understanding, but in this Case I rather seem’d to be directed by an obstinate Desperation, than by Reason; and for his Part, since I was so careless of myself as to determine to throw myself away, he did not think it would stand with the Credit or Reputation of the Company, to put it into my Power. He wish’d me well, he said, and did assure me, that the Thoughts of me had taken him up the greatest Part of the Night; and he had hit on a Way which, he was sure, would be much more to my Advantage, and not expose me to so much Hazard and Danger, and yet would be more profitable, than I could expect by having the Sloop, tho’ every thing was to fall out to exceed my Expectation; and did not doubt of the Company’s agreeing to it: _And this_, says he, _is, to take and sink or burn your Sloop, and keep you with us no otherwise than as you are now_, viz. _a Prisoner; and I promise you, and will engage to get the Company to sign and agree to it, the first Prize we take, if you like her; and if not, you shall stay with us till we take a Prize that you like, and you shall have her with all her Cargo, to dispose of how and where you please, for your own proper Use_. He added, _that this, perhaps, might be the making of me, and put me in a Capacity of leaving off the Sea, and living ashore, if I was so inclin’d_; protesting, _that he did all this purely out of Respect to me, because he saw I was a Man of Sense_, as he said, _and was willing to take Care and Pains to get a Living for myself and Family_.

“I thank’d him, and told him, _I was sorry I could not accept of his kind Offer; and hoped he would excuse me, and not impute it to an obstinate Temper; because_, I said, _I did not perceive it would be of any Advantage to me, but rather the Reverse; for I could not see how I should be able to dispose of the Ship, or any Part of her Cargo; because no Body would buy, except I had a lawful Power to sell; and they all certainly knew, they had no farther Right to any Ship or Goods that they took, than so long as such Ship or Goods was within the Verge of their Power; which, they were sensible, could not extend so far, as to reach any Place where such Sale could be made: Besides_, I said, _if the Owners of any such Ship or Goods should ever come to hear of it, then should I be liable to make them Restitution, to the full Value of such Ship and Cargo, or be oblig’d to lie in a Prison the remaining Part of my Days; or, perhaps, by a more rigid Prosecution of the Law against my Person, run a Hazard of my Life_.

“_Russel_ said, _These were but needless and groundless Scruples, and might easily be evaded: As for my having a Right to make Sale of the Ship and Cargo, which they would give me, they could easily make me a Bill of Sale of the Ship, and such other necessary Powers in Writing, as were sufficient to justify my Title to it beyond all Possibility of Suspicion; so that I should not have any Reason to fear my being detected in the Sale: And as for my Apprehension of being discover’d to the Owners, that might as easily be prevented; for they should always know, by Examination of the Master, &c. and also by the Writings taken on board such Ship (which they always took Care to seize upon) who were the Owners and Merchants concern’d in both Ship and Cargo, as also their Places of Abode; by which I might be able to shun a Possibility of their discovering me_: Adding, _That I might have the Powers and Writings made in another Name, which I might go by ’till I had finish’d the Business, and then could assume my own; which Method would certainly secure me from all Possibility of Discovery_.

“I told him, _I must confess, there was not only a Probability, but a seeming Certainty, in what he said, and that it argued abundance of Wit in the Contrivance; but_, I assur’d him, _that were I positively certain, which I could not be, that ’till the Hour of my Death it would not be discover’d, yet there was still a strong Motive to deter me from accepting it; which, tho’ it might seem, perhaps, to them to be of no Weight, and but a meer Chimera, yet it had greater Force with me than all the Reasons I had hitherto mention’d; and that was my Conscience; which would be a continual Witness against me, and a constant Sting, even when, perhaps, no Body would accuse me: And as there could be no hearty and unfeigned Repentance, without making a full Restitution, as far as I was able, to the injur’d Person_; I ask’d them, _What Benefit would it be to me, if I got Thousands of Pounds, and could not be at Peace with my Conscience, ’till I had restor’d every Thing to the proper Owners, and after all, remain as I was before?_ A great deal more, I told them, I could say upon this Head; but doubted that Discourses of this Nature were not very taking with some of them, and might seem of very little Account; _Yet I hope_, said I, _and God forbid that there should not be some of you, who have a Thought of a great and powerful God, and a Consciousness of his impartial Justice to punish, as well as of his unfathomable Mercy to pardon Offenders upon their unfeigned Repentance, which would not so far extend as to encourage us to run on in sinning, thereby presuming to impose on his Mercy_.

“Some of them said, _I should do well to preach a Sermon, and would make them a good Chaplain_. Others said, _No, they wanted no Godliness to be preach’d there: That Pirates had no God but their_ Money, _nor_ Saviour _but their_ Arms. Others said, _That I had said nothing but what was very good, true, and rational, and they wish’d that Godliness, or, at least, some Humanity, were in more Practice among them; which they believ’d, would be more to their Reputation, and cause a greater Esteem to be had for them, both from God and Man_.

“After this, a Silence follow’d; which Capt. _Russel_ broke, saying to me again, _Master, as to your Fear that you wrong your Neighbour in taking a Ship from us, which we first took from him; in my Judgment, it is groundless and without Cause; nor is it a Breach of the Laws of God or Man, as far as I am able to apprehend; for you do not take their Goods from them, nor usurp their Property: That we have done without your Advice, Concurrence, or Assistance; and therefore whatever Sin or Guilt follows that Action, it is intirely_ Ours, _and, in my Opinion, cannot extend to make any unconcern’d Person guilty with us. It is plain, beyond disputing_, continu’d he, _that you can be no Way Partaker with us in any Capture, while you are only a constrain’d Prisoner, neither giving your Advice or Consent, or any Ways assisting; and therefore it may be most certainly concluded, that it is We only that have invaded the Right, and usurp’d the Property of another; and that you must be innocent, and cannot be Partaker of the Crime, unless concern’d in that Action that made it a Crime. But you seem to allow, that we have a Property, while we are in Possession; but_, added he, _I suppose you think, that all the Claim we have to the Ships and Goods that we take, is by an Act of Violence, and therefore unjust, and of no longer Force than while we are capable to maintain them by the same superior Strength by which we obtain’d them_.

“I told him, _I could not express my Conceptions of it better or fuller, I thought, than he had done; but hoped, neither he, nor Capt._ Loe, _nor any of the Gentlemen present, would be offended at my taking so much Liberty; which was rather to acquaint them with my Reasons for not being able to accept of their kind Offer, than to give any Gentleman Offence_; adding, _That I had so much Confidence in their Favours, that, if I could have accepted them, I verily believ’d, they would all have concurred with Capt._ Russel _in what he so kindly and friendly design’d me_.

“At which Words they all cry’d, _Ay, Ay, by G--_, and that _I was deserving of that and more_.

“I told them, _I heartily thank’d them all in general, and did not wish any of them so unfortunate, as to stand in Need of my Service; yet, if ever they did, they should find, that the uttermost of my Ability should not be wanting in Retaliation of all the Civilities they had shewn me, ever since it was my Lot to fall into their Hands; but, in a more especial Manner, for this their now offer’d Kindness, tho’ I could not accept it with a safe and clear Conscience, which I valued above any Thing to be enjoy’d in this World_. I said, _I could add farther Reasons to those I had already urg’d; but I would not trouble them longer, fearing I had already been too tedious or offensive to some of them; which, if I had, I heartily begg’d their Pardon; assuring them once more, that if it was so, it was neither my Design nor Intent, but the Reverse_.

“Hereupon they all said, _They liked to hear us talk, and thought we were very well match’d_: Adding, _That Capt._ Russel _could seldom meet with a Man that could stand him: But, as for their Parts, they were pleas’d with our Discourse, and were very sure_ Loe _and_ Russel _were so too_.

“Capt. _Loe_ than said, He liked it very well; but told me, I had not return’d Capt. _Russel_ an Answer to what he last said, which he thought deserv’d one.

“I answer’d, That since the Gentlemen were so good-natur’d, as not only to take in good Part what I had hitherto said, but also to give me free Liberty to pursue my Discourse, I should make Use of their Indulgence, and answer what Capt. _Russel_ had said last to me, in as brief and inoffensive a Manner as I was capable of.

“Then turning to _Russel_, I said, _Sir, Your Opinion of my Notion of the Right you have to any Ship or Goods you may take, is exactly true; and I think your Right cannot extend farther than your Power to maintain that Right; and therefore it must follow, you can transfer no other Right to any one than what you have your selves, which will render any Person who receiv’d them, as guilty for detaining them from the proper Owners, as you for the taking them_.

“He said, _Be it so; we will suppose_ (and seemed a little angry) _for Argument Sake, we have taken a Ship, and are resolv’d to sink or burn her, unless you will accept of her: Now, pray, where is the Owner’s Property, when the Ship is sunk, or burned? I think the Impossibility of his having her again, cuts off his Property to all Intents and Purposes, and our Power was the same, notwithstanding our giving her to you, if we had thought fit to make use of it._

“I was loth to argue any farther, seeing him begin to be peevish; and knowing, by the Information afore given me by the three Men, that all his pretended Kindness and Arguments were only in order to detain me, without the Imputation of having broken their Articles; which he found the major Part of the Company very averse to; wherefore, to cut all short, I told him, I was very sensible of the Favours design’d me; and should always retain a grateful Sense of them: That I knew I was absolutely in their Power, and they might dispose of me as they pleas’d; but that having been hitherto treated so generously by them, I could not doubt of their future Goodness to me. And that if they would be pleas’d to give me my Sloop again, it was all I requested at their Hands; and I doubted not, but that, by the Blessing of God on my honest Endeavours, I should soon be able to retrieve my present Loss; at least, I said, I should have nothing to reproach myself with, whatever should befal me, as I should have, if I were to comply with the Favour they had so kindly intended for me.

“Upon which, Capt. _Loe_ said, _Gentlemen, the Master, I must needs say, has spoke nothing but what is very reasonable, and I think he ought to have his Sloop. What do you say Gentlemen?_

“The greatest Part of them answered aloud, _Ay, Ay, by G--, let the poor Man have his Sloop again, and go in God’s Name, and seek a Living in her for his Family. Ay_, said some of them, _and we ought to make something of a Gathering for the poor Man, since we have taken every Thing that he had on Board his Vessel_. This put an End to the Dispute; and every Body talked according to their Inclinations, the Punch, Wine, and Tobacco being moving Commodities all this Time: And every one who had an Opportunity of speaking to me, wish’d me much Joy with, and success in, my newly obtain’d Sloop.

“Towards Night, _Russel_ told Capt. _Loe_, that as the Company had agreed to give me the Sloop again, it was to be hoped they would discharge me, and let me go about my Business in a short Time; and therefore, with his Leave, he would take me on Board the Scooner with him, to treat me with a Sneaker of Punch before parting. Accordingly, I accompany’d him on Board his Vessel, tho’ I had rather stay’d with _Loe_, and he welcomed me there, and made abundance of Protestations of his Kindness and Respect to me; but still argued, that he thought I was very much overseen in not accepting what he had so kindly, and out of pure Respect, offer’d to me, and which, he said, would really have been the making of me. I told him, I thank’d him for his Favour and Good-will; but was very well satisfy’d with the Company’s Generosity in agreeing to give me the Sloop again, which, I said, was more satisfactory to me, than the richest Prize that they could take.

“Well, says he, I wish it may prove according to your Expectation. I thank’d him; so down we went into the Cabbin, and, with the Officers only, diverted ourselves in talking ’till Supper was laid on the Table.

“After Supper, a Bowl of Punch, and half a Dozen of Claret, being set on the Table, Capt. _Russel_ took a Bumper, and drank _Success to their Undertaking_; which went round, I not daring to refuse it. Next Health was _Prosperity to Trade_, meaning their own Trade. The third Health was, _The King of France_: After which, _Russel_ began the _King of_ England_’s Health_; so they all drank round, some saying, _The King of_ England’s _Health_, others only _The aforesaid Health_, ’till it came round to me; and Capt. _Russel_ having empty’d two Bottles of Claret into the Bowl, as a Recruit, and there being no Liquor that I have a greater Aversion to, than red Wine in Punch, I heartily begg’d the Captain and the Company would excuse my drinking any more of that Bowl, and give me leave to pledge the Health in a Bumper of Claret.

“Hereupon _Russel_ said, _Damn you, you shall drink in your Turn a full Bumper of that Sort of Liquor that the Company does. Well, Gentlemen_, said I, _rather than have any Words about it, I will drink it, tho’ it is in a Manner Poyson to me; because I never drank any of this Liquor, to the best of my Remembrance, but it made me sick two or three Days at least after it._ _And d--n you_, says _Russel, if it be in a Manner, or out of a Manner, or really, rank Poyson, you shall drink as much, and as often, as any one here, unless you fall down dead, dead_!

“So I took the Glass, which was one of your _Hollands_ Glasses, made in the Form of a Beaker, without a Foot, holding about three Quarters of a Pint, and filling it to the Brim, said, _Gentlemen, here is the aforesaid Health. What Health is that_, said _Russel? Why_, says I, _the same Health you all have drank, The King of_ England’s _Health. Why_, says _Russel, who is King of_ England? I answer’d, _In my Opinion, he that wears the Crown, is certainly King while he keeps it. Well_, says he, _and pray who is that? Why_, says I, _King_ George _at present wears it_. Hereupon he broke out in the most outrageous Fury, damning me, and calling me Rascally Son of a B--; and abusing his Majesty in such a virulent Manner, as is not fit to be repeated, asserting, with bitter Curses, that we had no King.

“I said, _I admir’d that he would begin and drink a Health to a Person who was not in being_. Upon which, he whipp’d one of his Pistols from his Sash, and I really believe would have shot me dead, if the Gunner of the Scooner had not snatch’d it out of his Hand.